11 '2 PEAT BKACKEN LEAVES SAWDUST 



Analyses of fibres extracted from peat obtained in Wiirtemburg 

 and Silesia and of moss litter from North Germany, were made by 

 Fleischer l in 1883 : 



Peat sometimes contains iron pyrites, and in some cases, arsenic is 

 present in the pyrites. The manure made with such peat may be de- 

 structive to plant life. 



Dried bracken is often used as litter in mountainous and thickly 

 wooded districts, e.g., in the English Lake district and the New Forest, 

 in Scotland and Ireland, and in certain parts of Germany. 



It is not so absorbent as other litters, but is of value on account of 

 its composition. This varies with the age at which it is cut and with 

 other circumstances. A dried sample examined by Homberger' 2 con- 

 tained O706 per cent nitrogen, O13 per cent potash, and O12 per cent 

 phosphorus pentoxide, while two samples examined by J. Hughes 

 contained in one case (young plants) 2-42 per cent nitrogen, 1-15 per 

 cent potash, and 0*6 per cent phosphorus pentoxide, while in the 

 other (old plants) there were only 0'90 per cent nitrogen, O10 potash, 

 and 0-30 of phosphorus pentoxide. 



Dried leaves. These are only rarely used and are not of much 

 value. According to numbers obtained from American investigations,* 

 autumn leaves contain about 



0-75 per cent nitrogen, 



0-10 to 0-50 per cent potash, 



0-06 0-30 phosphorus pentoxide. 



Sawdust is used in stables in large towns. It has good absorptive 

 powers, and, according to Storer (just quoted), contains about 



TO per cent nitrogen, 



0-10 potash, 



0-05 phosphorus pentoxide. 



It renders horse manure very open and porous and therefore favours 

 rapid oxidation and fermentation, sometimes to a harmful extent. It 

 would be less objectionable as a litter for cows. The turpentine found 

 in pitch-pine sawdust may seriously retard its decomposition in the- 

 soil. 



Tanners' refuse. This is sometimes used as a litter, but is of 

 comparatively little value. Storer gives as its average composition 



J Jour. Chem. Soc., 1884, Abstracts, 105. 



*Ibid., 1886, Abstracts, 485. 



^Quoted by Storer, Agriculture, etc., Vol. I, p. 446. 



