322 AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



Inorganic matter, 1. Portion soluble in \vater. 



Thus, of 100 Ibs. of barn yard manure, well made, well taken 

 care of, and hauled on the field, 65 Ibs. are pure water; of the 

 remaining 35 Ibs., 25 are inert carbonaceous matter, only ser 

 viceable as a source of carbonic acid, leaving only 1 per cent, 

 of inorganic substances, and 0.6 of nitrogen, as true fertilizing 

 matters. Of this 10 per cent, only 3 are of much value either 

 as regards their commercial price or relative value. But the 

 above manure is of extraordinary richness when compared with 

 what we are in the habit of applying in the Western States. 

 Ours is generally thrown out of the stables, every shower pene 

 trating through it, and carrying into the next ditch whatever 

 there may be soluble in water ; then, through spring and sum 

 mer, the heat of the sun and fermentation drives off all gases 

 as formed ; and when, at much toil and expense, we apply it, 

 we find nothing which can feed a plant or assist it to grow. 

 The &quot;black water&quot; found round manure heaps, where there hap 

 pens to be a hole in the ground, is sufficient proof of this. The 

 peat and marl of our marshes are much more valuable than 

 such dung. 



As this a point of great practical and economical importance, the 

 teacher ought to imprsss it especially on the minds of his pupils, and 

 may exhibit the effect of water and heat on fresh manure before them. 



We strongly recommend all farmers who take the troub e to haul their manure 

 on to their soil, to save it either on Mr. Mechi s plan, or to have a cheap shed near the 

 door of the staMe into which it can be pitched, raking care to use sufficient straw, 

 sawdust, peat, &c., to absorb all the liquids One load of such dung is proved to b 



