FARM MANURES I 73 



COMPOSITION OF HEN MANURE 



193. Mixing of Solid and Liquid Excrements. - - The 

 solid and liquid excrements together make a well-bal- 

 anced manure. Urine alone is not a complete manure, 

 as it is deficient in phosphoric acid and other mineral 

 matter. The solid excrement and the urine, when 

 combined with soil, readily undergo nitrification. The 

 nitrogen in the solid excrement is in the form of indi- 

 gestible protein and is rendered available more slowly 

 as plant food. Land dressed with leached manure re- 

 ceives an unbalanced fertilizer deficient in nitrogen but 

 fairly well supplied with mineral matter and may fail to 

 respond because of the unbalanced character of the 

 manure. A large amount of fertility is often lost 

 through poor and leaky stable floors. When the floors 

 and trenches are made of cement, better sanitary condi- 

 tions prevail and losses of fertility are prevented. 

 The mixing of the solid and liquid excrements and 

 waste bedding should be accomplished in the stable 

 trenches. 



194. Volatile Products from Manure. Fermentation 

 of manure in stables results in the production of a large 



