ISO SOILS AND FERTILIZERS 



with ammonium carbonate, produces ammonium sul- 

 phate, a non-volatile compound, 



(NH 4 ) 2 CO 3 + CaSO 4 = (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 + CaCO 3 . 



Gypsum when used should be at the rate of about 

 one half pound per day for each animal. 59 Experiments 

 show that it prevents a loss of 5 per cent of the nitro- 

 gen of horse manure. It has no action on the feet of 

 animals, and so may with safety be sprinkled in the 

 stalls. When it is necessary to use gypsum as a fertilizer, 

 it is advantageous to use it in stables. It is not advis- 

 able to use lime in any other form than the sulphate. 

 Unslaked lime will decompose manure and liberate am- 

 monia. Neither kainit nor gypsum should be used when 

 manure is exposed to the leaching action of rains. Pre- 

 servatives cannot be made to take the place of care in 

 handling manure ; they should be used only when the 

 manure receives the best of care. 



203. Manure produced in Sheds and Box Stalls. - 

 Manure produced under cover, as in sheds and box 

 stalls, is of superior quality. Losses by leaching are 

 thus avoided, the manure is compacted by the tramping 

 of the animals, the solid and liquid excrements are more 

 evenly mixed with the absorbents, and the conditions 

 are favorable for anaerobic fermentation. By no other 

 system is there such a large percentage of the fertility 

 recovered. Manure from well-fed cattle, when collected 



