VALUE OF POULTRY MANURE. 77 



terial (allowed to accumulate under the sheltered 

 roosts, and mixed with the little dry soil or coal 

 ashes used as absorbent) contains about eighteen 

 pounds of nitrogen, twelve pounds of phosphoric 

 acid, and eight pounds of potash per ton. In com- 

 puting the approximate value of the article, we have 



18 pounds nitrogen @, 17 cents, - - $3.06 



12 " phosphoric acid @, 7 cents, - 84 



8 " potash @ 4 cents, . - - 32 



Total, per 2000 lbs., - - - $4.22 



Compared with the price of the best commercial 

 fertilizers, this quality of hen manure will have an 

 agricultural value of nearly five dollars per ton, 

 and. other samples, if dry and well kept, may be 

 worth still more. The buyer of fertilizers can well 

 afford to pay twenty or twenty-five cents for each 

 100 pounds of average well-kept poultry manure. 

 If largely mixed with litter, soil, coal ashes, etc., or 

 when very wet, or when wood ashes were freely 

 used as an absorbent, so that a part of the ammonia 

 is driven off, its true value may be much less. 



Analysis shows poultry manure to be especially 

 rich in nitrogen, and this is in the right shape to 

 become gradually available as the plants may need 

 it. Therefore instead of mixipg it with other stable 

 manures, although this may be a good practice for 

 ordinary farm purposes, I greatly prefer to keep it 

 separate, and to apply it for special purposes, for 

 instance as a top dressing in the garden, for onions, 

 spinach, celery plants, etc. 



At the same time the analysis makes it plain that 

 we need not be so very much afraid of applying 

 it pretty freely, if we apply it evenly. 



