142 SOILS AND FERTILIZERS 



three-quarters of the nitrogen is secured. Cow manure 

 is extremely variable in composition, and is the most 

 bulky of any manure produced by domestic animals. 

 A well-fed cow will produce about 80 Ibs. of manure 

 per day, including absorbents. 



176. Horse Manure. Horse manure contains less 

 water than cow manure, and is of a more fibrous 

 nature, doubtless due to the horse possessing less 

 power for digesting cellulose materials. Horse ma- 

 nure readily ferments and gives off ammonia products. 

 When the manure becomes dry, fire-fanging results, 

 due to rapid fermentation followed by the growth of 

 fungus bodies. Horse manure is sometimes consider- 

 ed of but little value. This is because it so readily 

 deteriorates in value and when used it has lost 

 much of its nitrogen by fermentation. When mixed 

 with cow manure, both manures are improved, 

 the rapid fermentaion of the horse manure is checked, 

 and at the same time the cow manure is improved in 

 texture. It is estimated that horses void about three- 

 fifths of their manure in the stable. A well-fed horse 

 at ordinarily hard work will produce about 50 pounds 

 of manure per day, of which about one-fourth is urine. 

 A horse will produce about 6 tons of manure per year 

 in the stable. If properly preserved and used it is a 

 valuable, quick-acting manure, but if allowed to fer- 

 ment and leach it gives poor results. 



177. Sheep Manure. Sheep produce a small 

 amount of concentrated manure, containing less water 

 than that produced by any other domestic animal. It 



