116 MANURES. 



often produces injurious results. The only precau- 

 tion necessary is to supply the sty with prepared 

 muck, charcoal-dust, leaf-mould, earth, or any ab- 

 sorbent in plentiful quantities, often adding fresh 

 supplies. The hogs will work this over with the 

 manure ; and, when required for use, it will be found 

 an excellent fertilizer. The absorbent will have over- 

 come its injurious tendency, and it may be safely 

 applied to any crop, except cabbages and the smooth- 

 K'aved turnips such as the rutabaga. From the 

 variety and rich character of the food of this animal, 

 his manure is of a superior quality. 



Butchers' hogpen manure is one of the best fer- 

 tilizers known. It is made by animals that live 

 chiefly on blood and other animal refuse, and is very 

 rich in nitrogen and the phosphates. It should be 

 mixed with prepared muck, or its substitute, to pre- 

 vent the loss of its ammonia, and as a protection 

 against its injurious effect on plants. 



POULTRY-HOUSE MANURE. 



Next in value to night soil, among domestic ma- 

 nures, are the excrements of poultry, pigeons, etc. 

 Birds live on the nice bits of creation, seeds, insects, 

 etc., and they discharge their solid and liquid excre- 

 ments together. Poultry-dung is nearly equal in 

 value to Peruvian guano (except that it contains 

 more water), and it deserves to be carefully pre- 

 served and judiciously used. It is as well worth one 

 dollar per bushel as guano is worth seventy-five dol- 

 lars a ton. 



