COMPOSITION OF FARM-YARD DUNG. 267 



On the average, farm-dung dried at 238' contains ; 



Carbon 35.8 



Hydrogen 4.2 



Oxygen 25.8 



, Azote 2.0 



Suits and earths 32.2 



100.0 



When moist, its composition is represented by — 



Carbon 7.41 



Hydrogen 0.87 



Oxygen 5.34 



Azote 0.41 



Salts and earths 6.67 



Water.... 79.30 



100.0 



The constitution of dung-heaps must of necessity vary ; those; 

 however, which have a common origin do not seem to present very 

 great differences in the proportion of their elements. Thus, horse- 

 dung, in the south of France, yielded, on analysis, in the dry state, 

 2.4 per cent, of azote. This manure contained only 61 per cent, of 

 moisture. 



Did we but know the composition and the quantity of the excre- 

 tions passed, in the course of the twenty-four hours, by the various 

 animals which contribute to the production of manure, we should be 

 able to determine approximatively what the elements are which have 

 been eliminated in the course of the fermentation. It would be suf- 

 ficient to compare the elementary matter in the litter, or fresh dung, 

 as it comes from the stable, with that which exists in the fermented 

 or prepared manure. I have data which I think sufficient to enable 

 me to institute this comparison. It must always be borne in mind, 

 however, that the analyses which I shall now detail, were made 

 upon the excrements of a single individual of each kind. It would 

 certainly have been preferable to have had average analyses of 

 average qualities ; but the object I had in view, when I undertook 

 these experiments, was quite different from that which I have nov; 

 before me. 



EXCRETIONS OF THE HORSE 



The horse was fed upon hay and oats. The urine and the excre- 

 ments together contained 76.2 per cent, of moisture. In twenty-foui 

 hours the excretions weighed — moist, 34.2 lbs. ; dry, 8.1 lbs. 



Their composition was found to be — 



In the dry state. Moist ditto. 



Carbon 38.6 9.19 



Hydrogen .5.0 1.20 



Oxygen 36.4 8.66 



Azote 2.7 4.13 



Salts and earth 17.3 4.13 



Water " 76.17 



11X).0 100.0 



• The size of the horse was rather below the average usual size of farm horses. 



