BARNYARD MANURE 



93 



average well-kept manure and bedding, estimating nitrogen to 

 be worth 20 cents a pound ; phosphorus, 1 2 cents a pound ; 

 and potassium, 6 cents a pound : 



This means that the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium 

 contained in the manure produced in a year by a thousand- 

 pound horse would cost $42.15 if bought in the form of a 

 commercial fertilizer. The other facts presented are equally 

 significant. No farmer could afford to pay such prices for 

 manure with which to grow ordinary farm crops, but it is indis- 

 putably true that the manure produced from farm animals has 

 a very high value and deserves much more care than it usually 

 receives. 



103. Effect of feed on character of manure. The kind of 

 material fed to animals affects very strikingly the value of 

 manure. Grains and other feeds containing much protein, 

 such as cottonseed meal, linseed meal, tankage, clover hay, 

 cowpea hay, and alfalfa hay produce a manure rich in nitrogen. 

 On the other hand feeds containing little protein, such as 

 corn, timothy hay, millet, corn stover, and straw produce a 

 manure poor in nitrogen and of comparatively low value. A very 

 important part of the profit from feeding a liberal amount of 

 highly nitrogenous feeds is in the greater value of the manure 

 produced. The use of nitrogenous feeds and the careful saving 

 of the manure may be great factors in reducing fertilizer bills, 

 and thus increasing the profits of farming. 



