691 



It will now be evident from what has been said, that the solid 

 and liquid excreta should be used in conjunction with eaeli other 

 to make anything like a complete manure. The solid excreta con- 

 tains about all the phosphoric acid, lime and magnesia ; the liquid 

 excreta almost all the potash. 



LITTER. 



The litter that is generally used is one of the straws. For the 

 composition and quantity of the ash in straw see tables i and 2 (pages 

 6Si to 682). 



The litter is used principally as a bedding for the animals, but 

 it has other vafues as regards the manure. It prevents too rapid a 

 fermentation in the manure, increases the bulk of the manure so 

 that it can be spread over the soil more evenly ; it binds light 

 soils and enables them to retain more moisture ; it loosens heavy 

 clay soils if put in fresh ; it greatly helps to prevent the loss of the 

 liquid portion by absorbing it. 



Peat has also been used as a litter ; it not only absorbs more 

 of the urine than straw, but it fixes the ammonia to a greater 

 extent. Peat has not only a greater power for absorbing and 

 ining moisture, but it has a higher manurial value. 



The common bracken has been used as a litter, more especially 

 when young. It is more valuable as a manure, and contains more 

 nitrogen, potash and lime than straw. Rushes and sawdust are 

 frequently used in this colony, the former particularly. 



Horse manure contains less moisture than that from either 

 cows or pigs, and, being drier, ferments quicker than the other two, 

 and is called a hot manure. That from cows and pigs containing 

 so much moisture, the fermentation is slow r , and consequently they 

 are called cold manures. The hot and cold manures are best 

 mixed, as the former assists the latter in setting up active fermen- 

 tation, while the addition of the cold manure to the hot prevents 

 too rapid fermentative action and consequent loss of ammonia, which 

 is volatilized. To prevent this to some extent fixers have been used, 

 such as gypsum, which is spread over the bedding. Munro recom- 

 mends ground peat. These fixers act by absorbing the ammonia. 



In making farmyard manure the pit should be so constructed 

 that the liquid portion cannot drain away, otherwise it will carry 

 away the most valuable constituents of the manure and consider- 

 ably reduce its value. Manure made under cover is far more valu- 

 able than that made in the open, more especially in a hot climate 

 like Western Australia, where there is a long season of dry weather. 

 Continued exposure to the heat of the sun deteriorates it. 



Lord Kinnaird experimented with the manure from an equal 

 number of animals of the same kind and age, and similarly fed. One 

 lot of animals was kept under cover, also the manure ; the others 

 were kept in an open yard. The following are the results of the 

 experiments : 



