SUCCESS IN MARKET GARDENING 



pipes to a tank from which it may be pumped. It 

 is very valuable, more so than the solid excrement 

 from the same animals; and more effectual means 

 of saving and applying it than those now generally 

 practised will doubtless soon come into use. In 

 applying it directly to the soil amongst growing 

 plants it requires, as already said, to be greatly 

 diluted. Small amounts pumped at intervals over 

 the compost heap promote fermentation. 



In purchasing manure, preference should be 

 given to that of grain-fed animals. The value of 

 all animal excrement depends more on the char- 

 acter of the food consumed than on the kind of 

 animal. But it is convenient to know the average 

 composition of the solid droppings of different 

 animals, and the following data have once been 

 published in the Gardener's Monthly. The excre- 

 ment standing highest in value is sheep dung (this 

 not being obtainable in our vicinity, we give its 

 analysis merely for comparison). It contains 

 in 100 parts, of water, 68.71 ; azotized matter, 23.16; 

 saline, 8.13. Horse manure consists of water, 

 75.31; geine, or organic matter, 20.67; salts, 4.02. 

 (The geine is composed of carbon, 9.56; hydro- 

 gen, 1.26; oxygen, 9.31; and nitrogen, 0.54.) Cow 



[62] 



