8 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The quality of -the manure depends upon a number of factors, the kind of 

 animal, the quality of the feed, and the amount and kind of the bedding that is 

 used being the most important. The manure of mature animals fed heavily on 

 concentrates is usually the richest in plant-food. Bedding, besides affecting the 

 composition of the manure, makes it more sanitary and easy to handle. Frequently 

 the liquid parts of farm manures contain over half the nitrogen and potash. Unless 

 the liquid parts are saved by means of a liquid-manure tank or by using plently of 

 absorbent bedding a great deal of the value will be lost. Straw is the standard 

 bedding. Dried peat has a very high absorbent power, and since it quite readily 

 decomposes in the soil it is quite valuable for this purpose. Dried leaves and saw- 

 dust are used, but are much inferior to straw or peat because they decompose very 

 slowly in the soil. On heavy clay soils their use may prove beneficial. 



THE CARE OF STABLE MANURE. 



Practically every farmer appreciates the value of the stable manures, but not 

 all farmers appreciate the losses that occur through their methods of handling. 



It is so difficult to prevent large losses that it is usually advisable to apply 

 the manure direct from the stable to the soil. This practice is not always possible ; 

 hence the treatment of manure is important. 



LEACHING. 



When the manure-heap is exposed to the washing of rain and the solutions 

 allowed to wash away the value of the manure decreases. We have already noted 

 that the greater part of the nitrogen and potash is frequently found in the liquid 

 parts. Furthermore, the nitrogen in the urine is largely in the form of urea, a 

 compound that is readily changed 'into volatile substance, ammonium carbonate. 



FERMENTATION. 



There are two distinct types of fermentation that occur in manure-heaps. The 

 first type is caused by organisms that require free air and the second by organisms 

 that do not require free air. The first form of fermentation, that caused by 

 organisms that require free air, is undesirable. It is responsible for large losses 

 of nitrogen. The nitrogen in the manure is converted into a volatile form by such 

 organisms and it escapes as a gas. To prevent this undesirable fermentation air 

 must be excluded from as much of the manure-pile as possible. This can be done 

 by keeping the pile as compact as possible, and since dry manure ferments more 

 readily than wet manure it is desirable to keep the manure-pile damp. 



The other form of fermentation which takes place in the absence of free air is 

 desirable, in that it is helpful in increasing the availability of the plant-food. 



STORING MANURE UNDER COVER. 



To prevent loss storing manure under cover is advisable. Some farmers use 

 covered sheds where the stock are allowed to exercise and the manure is kept 

 compact by the tramping of the animals. 



PRESERVATIVES. 



By adding moist gypsum (land-plaster) to manure much loss of nitrogen due 

 to the evolution of ammonium gas is avoided. Superphosphate and ground rock 

 phosphate are sometimes used to good advantage. 



VALUE OF FARM MANURES. 



It has already been noted that the value of farm manures depends not only 

 upon the plant food they contain, but because they maintain the humus or rotted 

 vegetable matter of soils and introduce organisms that assist in the release of plant- 

 food. 



