BARNYARD MANURE 219 



but its value has not been fully realized. Even at the present 

 time, many farmers do not appreciate the losses they sustain 

 when they do not take the proper care of their barnyard ma- 

 nure. The value of this dressing is sometimes reckoned in the 

 amount of nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid it contains. 

 Nevertheless, this is not the whole value, for it can produce 

 large quantities of humus, which, decaying, sets free nitrogen, 

 and also increases the necessary bacterial life in the soil. 



On account of thoughtlessness or ignorance, fully one half 

 the value of the manure is lost by the flowing away of the 

 liquid part. There is another great loss by rain, or by the 

 water flowing from the roof, where the manure has been left 

 piled against the building. The best way to handle manure 

 is to spread it as fast as it is produced. If this is impossible or 

 undesirable, the manure should be kept in a building with a 

 cement floor, tramped and kept moist by some animals, and 

 then spread all at once. The layer of manure should be quite 

 thin, especially where it is fresh manure, as larger amounts 

 may destroy the plant life on account of the rapid fermenta- 

 tion. In this connection it is well to note that properly fer- 

 mented manure is better for plants; the additional value is 

 not great enough, however, to pay for the very large loss 

 which takes place during the fermentation, and it is more 

 desirable to use smaller quantities of the fresh manure. 



References : 



1. 1601 : 288-291. Barnyard Manure and Soil Moisture. 



2. 1605 : 135-147. Barnyard Manure. 



3. Farmers' Bulletin No. 162 : 5-6. Value of Barnyard Manure. 



4. Farmers' Bulletin No. 192. Barnyard Manure, 

 a. 1606 : 81-83. Stable Manures. 



6. 1608:130-131. Barnyard Manure. 

 c . 1610 : 54-60. Barnyard Manure. 



