AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 319 



Chloride of Sodium, - 2.57 nona 



Or the average of per cen t 



Ammonia at - . 17.41 



Phosphate of lime at - - 24.12 



Potash at - - . 3^9 



These three &quot;being the elements chiefly demanded by plants, 



and in which the soil is apt to be deficient : in Guano, they are 



in the proper state of solubility and combination. 



690. NIGHT SOIL, or human excrements, are extensively used 

 in Belgium, Germany, China, and other countries ; but the Eng 

 lish and Americans appear to have an insuperable objection to 

 manuring with these substances. A few years ago they were 

 prepared in Great Britain and in the Ciy of New York, in a dry 

 form devoid of smell, and called Poudrette and Urate ; but 

 they seem to have gone greatly out of use, probably on account 

 of the means taken to render them less obnoxious dispelling the 

 gases, so as to reduce the value of the manure below the cost of 

 production. The excrement of men living on animal food is 

 richer in nitrogen and phosphates than of those living on veg 

 etables. (See Lielujs Aanimal Chemistry, Note I.) 



697. URINE. It is to the urine, that barn yard manure chiefly 

 owes its value, both as regards nitrogen and salts ; and yet in 

 our Western States how few take any pains to save the liquids ; 

 or prevent their being afterwards washed out of the dung. Liebig 

 denies that there is any available nitrogen in horse dung; and 

 practically, it probably is so ; so that with from 3600 to 4000 Ibs. 

 of fresh horse dung, corresponding to 100 Ibs of dry dung, we 

 place on the land from 2484 to 3000 Ibs of water, of 730 to 900 Ibs 

 of vegetable matter and altered gall, and also from 100 to 270 of 

 salt,, and other inorganic substances, a portion of which only are 

 soluble ; while in urine, rotted with water, we apply a large 

 quantity of nitrogen, as well as of the most valuable salts, and 

 these in a dissolved state ready at once to feed the plant, and 

 therefore requiring a very small quantity, as we have already 

 shown respecting bones. The urine of all animals bears a very 



