46 PLANT PRODUCTS 



necessary to use so much straw for bedding. A very common 

 and useful solution of these difficulties is to use both, to 

 put peat moss litter at the bottom and clean straw at the 

 top. It makes a very comfortable bed for the beasts, and 

 the liquor is well absorbed by the peat moss underneath. 

 The relative absorptive value of most of these materials is 

 increased by fine chopping, and unpromising materials 

 may be much improved by being passed through a chaff 

 cutter. The relative absorptive power of different litters 

 can be so easily determined that it would be wise for users 

 to test them themselves. All that is necessary is some 

 sort of scales and measuring vessel. A very convenient 

 method is to weigh 5 grammes of the material, add 100 cubic 

 centimetres of water, and allow to soak for a few hours. 

 The remaining mixture is then poured on to a funnel, which 

 has placed in it a small filter disc or even a common marble. 

 The portion of liquor drained through is measured in the 

 cylinder, and the difference from what was originally taken 

 gives the portion absorbed. With peat-moss litter it will 

 be found that 5 grammes will absorb about 50 cubic centi- 

 metres, or an absorptive capacity of 10 per unit. 



The Manufacture of Farmyard Manure. — As regards 

 the quantities produced, a cow will give about 45 poimds 

 of dung every day, containing about 8 pounds of dry matter 

 and 37 pounds of water. In the average of all animals the 

 organic matter in the dung represents 43 per cent, of the 

 organic matter eaten, and the nitrogen yielded is 20 to 40 

 per cent, of that eaten. This wide range of nitrogen is due 

 to the great variation in the proportions of nitrogenous 

 matter in the food. The phosphorus in the dung equals 

 95 per cent, of that eaten, and the potassium about 16 per 

 cent, of that eaten. 



Urine. — The cow gives about 50 pounds a day, with 

 4 pounds of dry matter, but the amount is very subject to 

 variation, according to the type of feeding. The organic 

 matter equals about 3 percent, of that eaten, the nitrogen from 

 60 to 80 per cent, of that eaten, the phosphorus about 3 per 

 cent, of that eaten, and the potassium from 80 to 85 per cent. 



