150 SOILS AND FERTILIZERS 



to prevent fermentation losses. Opinions differ as to 

 their value. Moist gypsum, when it comes in contact 

 with ammonium carbonate, produces ammonium sul- 

 phate, a non- volatile compound, 



(NH 4 ) 2 C0 3 + CaS0 4 = (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 + CaCCX 



Gypsum is used at the rate of about one-half pound 

 per day for each animal. 59 Experiments have shown 

 that it may prevent a loss of 5 per cent, of the nitro- 

 gen of horse manure. It may be safely Iprinkled in 

 the stalls as it has no action on the feet of animals. 

 When it is necessary to use gypsum as a fertilizer it 

 is advantageous to use it in stables. It is not advisable 

 to use lime in any other form than the sulphate. Un- 

 slaked 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. Preservatives 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. 



190. Manure Produced in Sheds and BoxStalls. 



Manure produced under cover as in sheds and box 

 stalls is of superior quality to that prepared in 

 any other way. Losses by leaching are 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 anearobic fermentation. By no other 

 system is there such a large percentage of the fertility 

 recovered. Manure from well-fed cattle, when col- 



