1847.] Transactions of the State Agricultural Society. 21 



Again, the nature of farm yard manure and the amount of ve- 

 getable matter it contains. 



Under these two heads, Dr. Gardner makes an estimate of the 

 value of barn yard manure; and guided by the investigations of 

 M. Boussingault, it is considered that 1,500 pounds of barn yard 

 manure is equivalent only to 50 pounds of bones, from 20 to 40 

 of guano, 28 pounds of nitre worth 2^ cents per pound, &c. 



The solid matter of 1,500 pounds of barn yard manure amounts 

 to only 300 pounds, 200 of which is vegetable matter analagousto 

 straw. It is maintained that 1,200 of the 1,500 is useless water, 

 and that the 210 is no better than chopped straw; and that the 

 real value of the entire load which costs one dollar, is contained 

 in the 90 pounds of mineral matter. We have ever been unwil- 

 ling to dissent openly from the opinions of such men as Bous- 

 singault, and yet we never could regard the experiment by which 

 1,500 pounds of manure is reduced in value to the 300 pounds 

 which is obtained by drying it at 230° of Fah. What is lost we 

 have never believed to have been simple and pure water, inas- 

 much as exposure of manure to the ordinary temperature of the 

 atmosphere in summer, is sufficient to dissipate most of the nitro- 

 genous compounds. We do not obtain an expression of the val- 

 ue of the manure, but the amount of solid matters, which in 

 order that they may be rendered useful must not only be com- 

 bined with as much as they originally contained, but also with 

 much more. The manure is still reduced in value by compari- 

 son with 40 pounds of nitrate of lime, which any farmer, it is 

 asserted, can make for ten cents. The 40 pounds of nitrate of 

 lime however is equivalent to the four pounds of nitrogen in the 

 1,500 pounds of manure. 



A reference is also made to the practice of the Hindoos, who 

 burn their manure and use the ashes only, and who also irrigate 

 their lands with salt petre water. According to the estimation 

 of the value of the equivalent here furnished us by Dr. Gardner, 

 what is the worth of a load of barn yard manure? The nitrogen 

 amounts to 4 pounds. Its value is represented by 28 pounds of 

 nitre, worth 2| cents per pound, which equals 70 cents. There 

 is then 90 pounds of solid inorganic matter, consisting of phos- 

 phates and carbonates, which cannot be of less value, than half 

 a cent per pound; this part is then worth 45 cents. The real 

 value then of a load of barn yard manure must be reckoned at 

 115 cents. The inorganic matter of 1,500 pounds of barn yard 

 manure must be worth as much as the same weight of inorganic 

 matter of bones or guano. There is nothing but what is neces- 

 sary and essential to the growth of vegetables and animals. A 

 load of manure, if its value is estimated by equivalents, is worth 

 the dollar the farmer pays for it, for it cannot be doubted for a 



