Means of Preventing Loss 



This can largely be prevented. It indicates a waste 

 of liquid manure, and a bad maturing process. But 

 there are other losses of which the farmer does not 

 suspect the existence, but which nevertheless are 

 very important. These losses begin immediately 

 after the emission of the droppings, and include in 

 ordinary cases from 30 to 50 per cent, of the entire 

 nitrogen. These figures represent in England the 

 value of many million pounds annually. Ureas are 

 transformed into carbonate of ammonia, which de- 

 composes into ammonia and carbonic anhydrides. 

 This ammonia — therefore the nitrogen — is lost in the 

 air. To retard or prevent this loss, sulphate of iron 

 has been tried, but it was not satisfactory ; then 

 gypsum was tried, but that was not economical ; 

 but research has sho\\Ti that the sooner the 

 droppings are absorbed the less waste is caused. 

 Moss litter can retain much more ammonia than 

 ordinary straw, and dry earth, though it absorbs 

 much less liquid, has the power of retaining a great 

 quantity of ammonia, thus reducing the loss by half. 



It has been actually proved therefore, contrary to 

 the theory which was held for a long time, that the 

 custom practised in the north of Belgium of using 

 earth as part litter is an excellent one, and that if it 

 were followed in England it would represent a very 

 considerable source of profit to agriculture. The 

 losses in ammonia continue during the whole course 

 of maturing under the defective conditions we have 

 described, whilst they are reduced to a minimum 

 under the good systems. 



It is not necessary, to ensure its goodness, that 

 the manure shall have turned black or that it should 



99 



