VALUE OF MANURES 



87 



acid, and potash are computed at 15, 6, and 4 1 cents per pound, re- 

 spectively (see prices, p. 47). The indirect benefits of manures may 

 be considered an equal offset for the slightly less availability of their 

 plant-food constituents as compared with fertilizers : 



KIND OF MANURE VALUE PER TON 



Sheep $2.30 



Calves 2 17 



Pigs 2.29 



Cows 2.02 



Horses 2.21 



Limited amounts of bedding were used in the tests from which the above 

 figures were made. The plant-food in straw is not so quickly available 

 as it is in the excrement of animals. 



The following table exhibits the value of manure from different 

 animals of average or aggregate weight of 1000 pounds : 



KIND OF ANIMALS VALUE PER YEAR 



Fowls $51.10 



Sheep 26.09 



Calves 24.45 



Pigs 60.88 



Cows 29.27 



Horses 27.74 



Manurial value of a ton of the usual bedding material computed as 

 above : 



Losses by leaching (Roberts). 



Manures exposed at Ithaca in loose heaps of two to ten tons for six 

 months showed loss of values as follows : 



1889 horse manure ................... 42 



1890 horse manure ....... ............ 62 



1890 cow manure ........ . ........... 30 



1889 mixed manure (compacted) .............. ' . 9 



In other cases, when small quantities of gypsum were mixed with the 

 manure, the losses were notably diminished. 



