MAJSUREti. 447 



agent earth is excellent. It does not, however, enrich the 

 heap to the same extent that straw does in European 

 countries, mid again it is much poorer in organic matter. 

 It in fact dilutes the manure and thus renders it compar- 

 atively speaking poor. It is considered that the use of 

 one ton of straw in Europe enriches the heap to the extent 

 of 10 or 12 Ibs. of nitrogen while an equal amount of earth 

 in Egypt would similarly add only 2 or ,> Ibs. There has 

 been a tendency recently, however, in Europe towards the 

 greater employment of straw as a feeding material and 

 less as litter. In any case the use of straw from white cereal 

 crops in Egypt is not to be thought of. An objection 

 raised to the use of earth in Europe is that it is very difficult 

 to preserve cleanliness. This would hold good especially 

 in the case of dairy animals : with working bullocks, 

 however, the objection does not arise. In India litter is 

 objected to on the plea that the animals become infested with 

 ticks. It is also stated that the cattle become unhealthy, 

 a statement at variance with Egyptian experience. The 

 only forms of straw occasionally employed as litter in 

 Egypt are those of beans and rice. When removed from 

 under the animal the manure is carted into loose heaps 

 and exposed to the sun where fermentation takes place. 

 Owing to the practical absence of rain, no loss is to be 

 feared from the leaching effects of an excess of water 

 Ailing on them, but on the other hand other losses occur 

 > v hich considerably detract from the value of the manure. 

 The precise nature of the fermentation and decomposition 

 which takes place in a heap is a very complicated matter and 

 depends on a variety of considerations. The active agents 



