46 TALKS OX MANURES. 



Of all vegetable substances used for food, it will be seen that 

 decorticated cotton-seed cake is the richest in nitrogen, phos- 

 phoric acid, and potash, and consequently makes the richest and 

 most valuable manure. According to Mr. Lawes' estimate, the 

 manure from a ton of decorticated cotton-seed cake is worth $.27.86 

 in gold. 



Rape-cake comes next. Twenty-five to thirty years ago, rape- 

 cake, ground as fine as corn-meal, was used quite extensively on 

 many of the light-land farms of England as a manure for turnips, 

 and not unfrequently as a manure for wheat. Mr. Lawes used it 

 for many years in his experiments on turnips and on wheat. 



Of late years, however, it has been fed to sheep and cattle. In 

 other words, it has been used, not as formerly, for manure alone, 

 but for food first, and manure afterwards. The oil and other car- 

 bonaceous matter which the cake contains is of little value for 

 manure, while it is of great value as food. The animals take out 

 this carbonaceous matter, and leave nearly all the nitrogen, phos- 

 phoric acid, and potash in the manure. Farmers who had found 

 it profitable to use on wheat and turnips for manure alone, found 

 it still more profitable to use it first for food, and theD for manure 

 afterwards. Mr. Lawes, it will be seen, estimates the manure pro- 

 duced from the consumption of a ton of rape-cake at $21.01. 



Linseed-oil cake comes next. Pure linseed-cake is exceedingly 

 valuable, both for food and manure. It is a favorite food with 

 all cattle and sheep breeders and feeders. It has a wonderful 

 effect in improving the appearance of cattle and sheep. An Eng- 

 lish farmer thinks he cannot get along without "cake" for his 

 calves, lambs, cattle, and sheep. In this country, it is not so ex- 

 tensively used, except by the breeders of improved stock. It is so 

 popular in England that the price is fully up to its intrinsic value, 

 and not unfrequently other foods, in proportion to the nutritive 

 and manurial value, can be bought cheaper. This fact shows the 

 value of a good reputation. Linseed-cake, however, is often adul- 

 terated, and farmers need to be cautious who they deal with. 

 When pure, it will be seen that the manure made by the consump- 

 tion of a ton of linseed-cake is worth $19.72. 



Malt-dust stands next on the list. This article is known by dif- 

 ferent names. In England, it is often called " malt-combs ;" here 

 it is known as " mult-sprouts" or u malt-roots." In making barley 

 into malt, the barley is soaked in water, and afterwards kept in a 

 warm room until it germinates, and throws out sprouts and roots. 

 It is then dried, and before the malt is used, these dried sprouts 

 and roots are sifted out, and are sold for cattle-food. They weigh 



