200 THE CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



The solid excrements of animals, man included, contain 

 every element of plant growth ; but by no means in the 

 perfect proportion required by the crops. 



The constituents of ordinary mixed farm manures are 

 as follows (in 1000 Ibs). 



Fresh. Half rotted. WJwlly rotted. 



Water 710 750 790 



Organic matter 246 192 145 



Mineral matter 44. 58 65. 



Nitrogen (in the organic matter)... 4.5 5. 5.8 



Potash 5.2 6.3 5.0 



Phosphoric acid in the ash 2.1 2.6 3.0 



Lime in the ash 5.7 7.0 8.8 



Magnesia in the ash 1.4 1.8 1.8 



Horse manure is considered more valuable than any other 

 part of the common stable manure. It heats quickly and 

 gives off ammonia copiously, and is really richer than other 

 manure because of the less quantity of urine voided, although 

 the horse may be no better fed than other animals. But 

 when cows or fattening oxen are well fed upon bran and 

 oil meals, their manure heats as readily and exhales am- 

 monia by its rapid decomposition as copiously as horse man- 

 ure. The difference between the manure of a horse and a 

 cow is very slight as may be seen by the following analyses 

 of the dry excrements. 



Horse dung. Cow dung. 



Carbon (per cent.) 38.7 42.8 



Hydrogen " 5.1 5.2 



Oxygen " 37.7 37.7 



Nitrogen " 2.2 2.3 



Ash " 16.3 12.0 



100.00 100.00 



Water " 300.00 566.00 



400.00 666.00 



The moister condition of the cow manure explains the 

 reason why it heats less rapidly than that of the horse. 



Night soil, or human excrement, is generally a rich and 

 valuable fertilizer; but it is commonly so mismanaged that 

 the most valuable portions are lost by exhalation, or by 

 solution and waste. When mixed with dry earth, or peat, 

 or powdered charcoal, it can be handled without offense and 

 waste. It is a matter of public loss and general offense, 



