104 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



in form of insoluble nitrogenous matter. To render it an 

 efScient manure requires, in the majority of cases, a liberal addi- 

 tion of phosphoric acid and potash. 



Damaged Cotton Seed Meal. 



[Sent on from Greenfield, Mass.] 



Per cent. 



Moisture at 100° C, 9.9U 



Total phosijhoric acid, ......... 126 



Potassium oxide, 1.21 



Magnesium oxide, 0.56 



Calcium oxide, 22 



Nitrogen, 3.73 



Insoluble matter, 0.20 



Valuation per 2,000 lbs., S14 97 



Analysis of Hen Manure. 



[Sent on from Townsend, Mass.] 



Per cent. 



Moisture at 100° C, 8.35 



Phosphoric acid, 2.02 



Calcium oxide, 2.22 



Magnesium oxide, 0.68 



Potassium oxide, 9.94 



Nitrogen in organic matter, 1.85 



Nitrogen in actual ammonia, 0.28 



Insoluble matter, 34.65 



Valuation per 2,000- lbs., flO 55 



The material was dry, and contained the usual mixture of 

 feathers, short pieces of coarse vegetable matter, earthy sub- 

 stances, etc., yet not in an extraordinary degree. The value of 

 the hen manure depends not less on the care which is bestowed 

 on its keeping than on the kind of food the fowls consume. 

 The excretion of birds, on account of their peculiar character, 

 undergoes a rapid change ; a large amount of ammonia is soon 

 formed, which reduces materially its manurial value, in case it 

 is allowed to escape. A liberal use of plaster, of kieserite or 

 of good loam is highly recommendable for the absorption of the 

 ammonia. The safest way to secure the full benefit of the drop- 

 pings is to gather them quite frequently, and to add directly 

 any of the previously-mentioned materials. A sandy soil is of 

 little use as an absorbent. 



