MANURE. 



MANURE. 



This term is used for all forms of decomposed vege- 

 table matter in barn-yards ; whether it be animal ex- 

 crement or other decomposed vegetable matter. Its 

 value varies greatly, not only as to its source, but also 

 as to the manner in which it is kept. When it is kept 

 in the usual way it is worth from $2.00 to $4.00 per 

 ton. About 60 to 80 per cent, of the whole weight is 

 water ; 9 to 15 pounds of it is nitrogen ; 9 to 15 

 pounds of potash, and 4 to 9 pounds of phosphoric 

 acid. From these variations it is plain that it is diffi 

 cult to state just how much it is worth. If the manure 

 has decomposed in the open air, there is danger of 

 the rain having washed out much of the potash, and 

 the nitrogen having passed off as a gas into the atmos- 

 phere. Manure that is to be kept for some time 

 should be under a roof where the rain cannot wash 

 out any of the soluble fertilizer. It should be kept 

 from becoming too hot by being forked over or stirred 

 in some way, or by using water when becoming dry. 

 While the essential elements in the barn-yard manure 

 may not equal those of a commercial fertilizer, it adds 

 the important factor of humus to the soil, thus im- 

 proving its mechanical condition. 



