120 MANURES. 







CHAPTER VII. 



OTHER ORGANIC MANURES. 



THE number of organic manures is almost countless. 

 The most common of these have been described in 

 the previous chapters on the excrements of animals. 

 The more prominent of the remaining ones will now be 

 considered. As a universal rule, it may be stated that 

 all organic matter (everything which has had vegeta- 

 ble or animal life) is capable of feeding plants. 



DEAD ANIMALS. 



The bodies of animals contain much nitrogen, as 

 well as large quantities of the phosphates and other 

 inorganic materials required in the growth of plants. 

 On their decay, the nitrogen is resolved into ammo- 

 nia, and the mineral matters become valuable as food 

 for the inorganic parts of plants. 



If the decomposition of animal bodies takes place 

 in exposed situations, and without proper precautions, 

 the ammonia escapes into the atmosphere, and much 

 of the mineral portion is leached out by rains. The 

 use of absorbents, such as charcoal-dust, prepared 

 muck, earth, etc., will entirely prevent the evapora- 

 tion, "and will in a great measure serve as a protection 

 against leaching. 



If a dead horse be cut in pieces and mixed with 

 ten loads of muck, the whole mass will, in a single 

 season, become a valuable compost. Small animals, 

 such as dogs, cats, etc., may be with advantage 



