POULTRY ON FARMS. 97 



managed, and their numbers calculated according to what 

 the farm is. 



First of all, let it be remembered that while poultry 

 require an acre for every hundred head if for their own 

 exclusive use, ten or a dozen per acre can be run upon land 

 without in any way interfering with other stock. The 

 manure dropped by this number fully returns all the grass 

 eaten, while it is absorbed quickly enough to keep the land 

 fresh, so that other grazing is not interfered with, as it 

 would be by a greater number. Many injurious insects and 

 grubs are also devoured by them, to the profit of the crops. 



Secondly, supposing other matters merely balanced, the 

 manure of the fowls dropped at night in the houses 

 represents a profit of one shilling per head per annum for 

 large cross-breeds, and sixpence to ninepence for smaller 

 birds. We found that Brahmas dropped at the rate of 56 Ibs. 

 per annum under their perches. After keeping a few weeks 

 in casks, this is reduced by drying to about half the weight ; 

 samples of both fresh and moist from the night before, and 

 thus kept and partly dried were analysed and valued for us 

 by the late Dr. Voelcker. The actual samples for this 

 analysis were from Dorkings, and were sent by Mr. O. E. 

 Cresswell. The following was the analysis : 



Fresh Partially dried 



Manure. Manure. 



Moisture 61.63 41.06 



* Organic Matter and Ammonia Salts ... 20.19 38.19 

 Tribasic Phosphate of Lime ... ... 2.97 ... 5.13 



Magnesia, Alkaline Salts, &c. ... 2.63 ... 3.13 



Insoluble Siliceous Matter (Sand) ... 12.58 ... 12.49 



100.00 ... 100.00 



* Containing Nitrogen ... 1.71 ... 3.78 



Equal to Ammonia ... 2.09 ... 4.59 



Dr. Voelcker accordingly valued the moist manure at 2 

 per ton, and the stored sample at ^4 43. per ton. Most of 

 H 



