CHAPTER IV. 



FARM MANURES. 



Karni manure has been used for centuries in restoring fer- 

 tility to the soil. It is the oldest and one of the most important 

 of our fertilizers. It is formed from vegetable and animal sub- 

 stances and naturally should prove of great value. In some sec- 

 tion of this country farm manure is w^asted, but the value of this 

 material is generally becoming better understood and is more 

 carefully saved than formerly, especially in the older farming 

 regions. 



Kinds of Manure. — When there is a great deal of straw or hay 

 in manure, it is said to be coarse. It is termed stable manure 

 when it is accumulated in stables and contains all the solid and 

 liquid portions. Barnyard manure is a name applied to manure 

 which is subject to exposure of rains and sun and may be com- 

 posed of pure solid excrement, or excrement and bedding. 



Conditions Affecting the Value of Manure. — There are many 

 conditions which affect the value of manure. 



1. The age of the animal. 



2. The use of the animal. 



3. The kind and amount of bedding used. 



4. The kind of animal. 



5. The nature and amount of feed used. 



6. The care, preservation and use of the manure. 



1. The age of the animal influences the value of manure. Ma- 

 nure from young animals is not so rich in the fertilizer constitu- 

 ents, nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash as that from mature 

 animals, even when the same kind of feed is used. Young ani- 

 mals require and retain nitrogen and phosphoric acid for growth, 

 while mature animals use these constituents for maintaining the 

 functions of the body and for repairing broken down tissues, 

 after which they are cast off in the manure. 



2. The use of the animal influences the value of manure. Milch 

 cows return less of the fertilizing constituents in the feed than 

 other domestic farm animals. Fattening pigs return less than 



