STABLING, FEED AND CARE. 123 



ing it to the action of air and water, allowing the water to drain off 

 and the manure to heat, thereby losing the most valuable parts. 

 About all that is left may be regarded as husks— of very little value 

 as a fertilizer. It is these little leaks of the farm which make 

 farming so unprofitable to many persons. The manure and urine 

 of the horse, if properly saved, form the strongest and most durable 

 of dressings for meadows, and especially is it valuable when the feed 

 contains a large proportion of albuminoids. It is estimated that one- 

 half the cost of these foods is returned in the increased value of the 

 manure. To one residing in a city, possessing a small lot; this saving 

 is hardly of less importance than to the farmer, as well-decomposed 

 stable manure forms one of the best dressings for the lawn. 



In the storage of manure there are two dangers to contend 

 with. The first is the leaching, or allowing it to become saturated 

 with water, which drains off ; and the second is the loss of the nitro- 

 gen by escaping and uniting with hydrogen, forming ammonia, 

 ■which, being very volatile, is easily carried away. But this gaseous 

 ammonia may be converted into a solid and retained. That is, we 

 can unite it with some other substance that will hold it, and this 

 nitrogen is the most costly element in manure, as it enters into the 

 composition of all kinds of vegetable matter. Upon how to over- 

 come these losses, then, will depend the future value of the manure. 



To prevent leaching, it is necessary to have a receptacle for 

 manure so that it cannot become saturated and the water drain off. 

 If there be a manure cellar, this is easily avoided ; but if it has to be 

 stored outside, and exposed to the action of the elements, it is not 

 so easily saved. If stored outside, the receptacle for it should be 

 lower than the surrounding surface, so that the water cannot drain 

 off ; it should be neatly piled in a compact, flattened heap. 



The escape of nitrogen may be prevented by using absorbents, 

 such as plaster (gypsum), kainit (which are the best materials that 

 can be used to prevent the loss of ammonia), or, when these are 

 lacking, road dust is particularly valuable. By this means the am- 

 monia will unite with the organic acids, and form soluble but not 

 volatile compounds, thus forming a compound rich in nitrogen, lime, 

 and potash. Where straw is largely grown, it should be provided 

 in abundance for bedding, and with a free use of gypsum or other 

 absorbents, most of the urine will be saved. The manure pile should 

 not be allowed to become dry, but should have a few barrels of water 

 added occasionally, and be frequently stirred with a fork. The ma- 

 nure should be drawn to those fields upon which plants are growing, 

 or soon will have them, to absorb it as it dissolves. Thus by a little 

 care and attention, thousands of dollars will be saved annually to 



