4 COMPOSITION OF SOLID EXCRETA. 



more favourable for rapid fermentation than in the 

 case of the more moist and less rich cow-dung. 



The composition of the solid excreta of various ani- 

 mals, as we have just said, varies with the nature 

 of their food; so that it is impossible to take any 

 analyses as absolutely representing its composition. 

 It may be interesting, however, to compare the analyses 

 of samples of horse-dung with those of some other of 

 the commoner farm animals, with a view to obtaining 

 an approximate idea of this difference. 



Stoeckhardt has found that in 1000 Ib. of the fresh 

 solid excreta of the animals below mentioned, there 

 were the following amounts of nitrogen, phosphoric 

 acid, and alkalies: 



From the above table it will be seen that the sheep's 

 dung contains the least percentage of water, and is 

 richer in nitrogen and phosphoric acid than any of the 

 other three. The percentage of alkalies, of which the 

 most important is potash, is, however, not so large. 



