196 HANDY-BOOK OF HUSBANDRY. 



published in the "Second Report of the New England Agricul- 

 tural Society." * 



The examination extended over a period of more than a year, 

 and included an investigation of the constituents of as uniform a 

 sample as could be prepared of the manure of horses, cows, and 

 pigs, as ordinarily combined in the farm-yard, in its fresh state; 

 after long exposure to the weather; after fermentation in the open 

 air ; and after fermentation under a tight shed. 



Careful analyses were made of each lot, at intervals during the 

 whole time, and the results were carefully summed up and con- 

 sidered with reference to their bearing on the treatment of manure 

 in practice. 



I give the conclusions arrived at, partly in Dr. Voelcker's own 

 words, and partly in a more condensed form : — 



1 . " Perfectly fresh farm-yard manure contains but a small 

 proportion of free ammonia." 



2. The nitrogen o{ fresh dung is mainly insoluble. 



3. The soluble parts of the manure are much the most valuable. 

 Therefore, it is important to save the urine, and to keep manure 

 protected from the rain, so that its soluble parts may not be washed 

 out. 



4. Farm-yard manure, even in its fresh state, contains soluble 

 phosphate of lime. 



5. The urine of the animals above-named does not contam any 

 considerable amount of phosphate of lime, but this is largely con- 

 tained in the drainings of dung-heaps, which are more valuable 

 than urine. 



6. " The most effectual manner of preventing loss in fertilizing 

 " matters is to cart the manure directly on the field, whenever cir- 

 "cumstances allow this to be done." 



7. " On all soils with a moderate proportion of clay, no fear 

 " need be entertained of valuable fertilizing substances becoming 

 " wasted if the manure cannot be plowed in at once. Fresh, and 

 " even well-rotted dung, contains very little free ammonia ; and 



* " On the composition of farm-yard manure, and the changes which it undergoe« 

 on keeping under different circumstances." 



