44 



FERTILITY AND FERTILIZER HINTS 



to these pits by pipes. It may not always be possible for a farm- 

 er to build a covered cement pit but he can always afford to 

 put a roof over the manure, for the cost of the shed will soon be 

 returned in the increased value of the manure. 



The following table, the work of Biernatski, shows the com- 

 position of uncovered and covered manure. 



Preservatives. — In the destruction of the nitrogen present in 

 organic matter in manure, the aerobic bacteria produce ammonia 

 and some of this gas unites with the carbon dioxide evolved and 

 forms ammonium carbonate, a volatile compound. By adding 

 moist gypsum (land plaster) to manure, the ammonium carbo- 

 nate is converted into ammonium sulphate, a compound that ,does 

 not pass away in the atmosphere. This latter compound is solu- 

 ble in water and when manure is exposed to the leaching of rains, 

 it is useless to employ gypsum. Gypsum is perfectly safe to use 

 because it does not injure the feet of animals. Lime is objec- 

 tionable because it liberates ammonia. Kainit, superphosphate 

 and ground rock phosphate are sometimes used with good suc- 

 cess, as they absorb nitrogen. These preservatives may be scat- 

 tered at the rate of about one pound to an animal. They may also 

 be economically used on covered manure heaps. HalP estimates 

 that it will take about 100 pounds of gypsum per ton of manure 

 to absorb the leases, as some of it is acted upon by the potassium 

 carbonate in the urine. 



Physical Effects of Manure.— Manure has a greater value than 

 is represented by its chemical composition. It improves the phy- 

 sical condition of the soil by. 



1. Producing a better moisture condition. 



2. Producing a better texture. 



3. Preventing mechanical losses by winds. 



4. Benefiting grass land. 

 ' Fertilizers and Manures. 



