584 SOILS: PROPERTIES AND MANAGEMENT 



488. Composition and character of farm manures. - 



Although the probable composition of farm manures is so 

 difficult to state in exact figures, compilations of the 

 available data have yielded percentages which, while 

 they demand a most liberal interpretation, afford con- 

 siderable light regarding the differences that normally 

 exist between the excrement of various animals. Of 

 these compilations, Van Slyke's is perhaps the best. 



THE COMPOSITION OF FRESH MANURE l 



Since the horse does not ruminate its food, the manure 

 is likely to be of an open character. It is also a fairly 

 dry manure, as is that from sheep, the liquid in these two 

 manures making up 20 and 33 per cent, respectively, 

 of the whole product. The complete manure from these 

 two animals contains 78 and 68 per cent, respectively, 



1 Van Slyke, L. L. Fertilizers and Crops, p. 291. New 

 York. 1912. 



