* CHAPTER VI 



FARM MANURE 



171. Variable Composition of Farm Manures. — 



The term ' farm manure' does not designate a prod- 

 uct of definite composition. Manure is the most 

 variable in chemical composition of any of the mate- 

 rials produced on the farm. It may contain a large 

 amount of straw, in which case it is called coarse ma- 

 nure ; or it may contain only the solid excrements and 

 a little straw, the liquid excrements being lost by 

 leaching ; then again it may consist of the droppings 

 of poorly fed animals, or of* the mixed excrements of 

 different classes of well-fed animals. 



The term ' stable manure' has been proposed for 

 that product which contains all of the solid and liquid 

 excrements with the necessary absorbent, before any 

 losses have been sustained. 15 The term ' barnyard 

 manure' is restricted to that material which ac- 

 cumulates around some barns and farm yards, and is 

 exposed to leaching rains and the drying action of the 

 sun. 



172. Average Composition of Manures. — The solid 

 excrements of animals contain from 6c* to 85 per cent. 

 of water ; when mixed with straw, and the liquid 

 excrements are retained, the mixed manure con- 



