CHAPTER III 



MANURES FOR VEGETABLE-GARDENING IN 

 WARM COUNTRIES 



MANURE comprises all forms of partly decomposed vege- 

 table matter in barn-yards, whether animal excrement or 

 other decomposing plant remains. Its value varies 

 greatly, not only with regard to source, but also from the 

 manner in which it has been kept. When kept in the usual 

 way, it is worth from $2.00 to $4.00 a ton for use on sandy 

 soils in Florida. About 60 to 80 per cent of the whole 

 weight is water ; 9 to 15 pounds of each ton is nitrogen ; 

 4 to 9 pounds, phosphoric acid ; and 9 to 15 pounds, potash. 

 From these variations it is evident that it is difficult to 

 state just how much manure is worth. If the manure has 

 decomposed in the open air, there is likelihood of the rain 

 having washed out much of the potash, and the ammonia 

 having passed off as a gas into the atmosphere. Manure 

 that is to be kept for some time should be under a roof 

 where rain cannot wash out any of the soluble fertilizer. 

 It should be kept from becoming too hot by being forked 

 over or stirred in some way, or by using water when be- 

 coming dry. While the essential elements in manure 

 may not equal those of a commercial fertilizer at the 

 same price, yet it has an additional worth in supplying 

 humus, the value of which is difficult to estimate, and 

 which is often needed more than the plant-food elements. 

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