SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



foods. Under good management, eighty per cent of the fertility in 

 food can be returned to the soil in manure. The manure from 

 old animals is more valuable than that of young ones, because 

 growing animals retain more of the fertilizing elements, especially 

 nitrogen, to build up their bodies. 



VALUE OF MANURE, ANNUALLY, OF FARM ANIMALS 



Manure yields about one fourth of its value the first season. Its 

 effects are more lasting than commercial fertilizers, which give up 

 from one half to three fourths of their value the first season. 



Sources of Loss. Manure often loses half or more of its value 

 from lack of proper care. There are three sources of loss. 



Loss OF MANURE BY EXPOSURE 



The manure on this farm loses more than half its value before it is applied to the land. 

 Refer to the text and explain how and why this happens. 



First: Manure loses by the escape of the liquid matter. This 

 is more valuable than the solid matter, as it contains nearly all 



