MANUAL OF THE NILAGTRI DISTRICT. 531 



The manures chiefly in use and most easily procured are — CH. xxix. 



1. Poudrette. Tka. 



2. Horse or Pig manure. 



3. Cattle manure. 



4. Oilcake. 



5. Guano. 



6. Fish. 



Night-soil has long been known to be one of the most powerful rondretit-. 

 fertilizers. It contains a large proportion of nitrogen. The most 

 valuable form is that manufactured on the principle in use by the 

 Ootacamand Municipality, which process has, by the kind permis- 

 sion of the Honorary Secretary at that time, been published in my 

 larger pamphlet on tea cultivation . To quote a few extracts from 

 that :— 



" The poudrette manufactured by the Municipality contains, in 

 addition to poudrette proper, at least 1 per cent, of bone-ash and J 

 to 15 per cent, of sheep and bullock's blood." 



Many estates situate within a few miles of Ootacamand, 

 Coonoor or Wellington, and possessed of good road communication, 

 are thus enabled to procure a most valuable fertilizer at a 

 moderate cost The only drawback to its application lies in the 

 repugnance of all natives, and even of those of the lowest caste, 

 to have anything to do with it. The bones it contains furnish a 

 large supply of lime and phosphoric acid. Blood, though seldom 

 used as a manure by itself, is a- valuable addition to a compoat 

 on account of the large proportion of nitrogen it contains. 



On large estates — and for that matter small ones too — a con- 

 siderable supply of ordinary poudrette. may be obtained by 

 establishing a good system of conservancy. The manure so 

 obtained, when deodorised, may with advantage be mixed up with 

 other manures, blood, burnt bones, lime, wood-ashes, charcoal, 

 green weeds, &c. The surface of this and all other manures, 

 while in the heap, should be well covered with a few inches of 

 soil to prevent the escape of ammonia and other volatile gases. 

 It is to be regretted that such a valuable product as this should 

 be allowed, as is the case on most estates, to go to waste. 



Horse and pig manure stand next in order to the above and Horse ami 

 are richest in nitrogen, and the urine of the pig furnishes a ^"8 niunme. 

 considerable proportion of phosphoric acid. In a fresh state they 

 are somewhat too heating, and previous to application should 

 either be well decomposed or applied in combination with some 

 other substances as a compost. Horse manure is seldom procura- 

 ble in any quantit}'-, but such supplies as can be procured should 

 be made use of. 



In my opinion pigs should be kept to a much greater extent 

 on estates than they are at present, not only on account of the 



