176 AGRICULTURE 



handling of 10 to 20 tons per acre involves 

 heavy outlay on horse and manual labour. 

 Against this, however, is to be set the fact 

 that farmyard manure greatly improves land, 

 apart altogether from the manurial elements 

 that it supplies. Following the indications 

 given at Rothamsted with regard to the 

 relative value of the nitrogen, we should 

 probably reach a juster estimate of the value 

 of farmyard manure if we divide its theo- 

 retical value by two, and take about 5s. 

 per ton as its full practical value a price, 

 including carriage, that many farmers and 

 market gardeners are prepared to pay. 



When a farm animal consumes an ordinary 

 ration it is found that for every 100 Ib. of 

 dry matter in the food about 50 Ib. reappear, 

 the difference, namely, one-half, taking the 

 form of water and gas in the process of 

 digestion, while a small quantity may be 

 stored up in the form of animal tissue (bone, 

 muscle, fat, hair, etc.). 



It is possible to make a calculation of 

 some service for practical purposes, as to 

 the amount of farmyard manure that may 

 be expected from a certain number of animals 

 consuming a normal quantity of food, and 

 being bedded in the ordinary fashion. A 

 well-grown cow or steer, weighing 8 or 9 cwt., 



