84 



SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



sumed. This, however, will vary greatly, depending on the absorbent 

 power of the bedding used and the character of the feed the animals 

 receive. It will also depend on whether or not the absorbent material 

 is thoroughly dry when used. When bedded with ordinary oat and wheat 

 straw, it is estimated generally that cows should each have about 9 

 pounds of bedding, horses 6j pounds and sheep f pound. The table on 

 preceding page shows the 'approximate absorbent capacity of various 

 materials used as bedding. 



The figures in the table are only approximate, and will vary con- 

 siderably under different conditions. They are supposed to represent 

 the amount of liquid that will be held by 100 pounds of the substances 

 mentioned, after twenty-four hours of contact. 



Aside from the absorbent power of bedding, its composition is also 

 of some importance, and the following table gives the average fertilizer 

 constituents in 2000 pounds of different kinds of straw. 



FERTILIZER CONSTITUENTS IN 2000 POUNDS OF VARIOUS KINDS OF DRY STRAW. 



Methods of Storing and Handling. The value of manure is also 

 determined by the manner in which it is stored, the length of time it 

 remains in storage and its manipulation in the storage heap. Manure 

 is a very bulky material of a comparatively low money value per ton. 

 Its economical use, therefore, demands that the consequent labor be 

 reduced to the minimum, especially in those regions where labor is high- 

 priced. Where manure is to be protected from the elements, it calls for 

 comparatively inexpensive structures for the purpose. 



When different kinds of animals are kept, it is advisable to place all 

 the manure together so that the moist, cold cow and pig manure may 

 become thoroughly mixed with the dry, hot horse and sheep dung. In 

 this way each class of manure benefits the other. Where the manure 

 is deposited in a barnyard in which the animals run, the swine are fre- 

 quently allowed to have free access to the manure pile, from which they 

 often get considerable feed which would otherwise be wasted. Such 

 feed consists of the undigested concentrates fed to the horses and cattle. 

 Swine thoroughly mix the different kinds of manure, and when it is thor- 

 oughly compacted by the tramping of the animals, fermentation is reduced 



