THE FIRST BOOK OF FARMING 



ment Station, the following experiment was carried 

 out to find out how much loss would take place 

 from a pile of manure : 



" Four thousand pounds of manure from the 

 horse stable were placed out of doors in a compact 

 pile and left exposed from April 25th to September 

 22d. The results were as follows : " 



This shows a loss of more than half the bulk of 

 the manure and more than half the plant food con- 

 tained in it. 



CHECKING THE LOSSES 



The first step to be taken in preserving the man- 

 ure or in checking losses is to provide sufficient 

 bedding or litter in the stable to absorb and save 

 all the liquid parts. 



The losses from fermentation of hot manures like 

 horse manure may be largely checked by mixing 

 with the colder manure from the cow stable. 



Losses from fermentation may also be checked. 



By piling compactly, which keeps the air out. 



By moistening the pile, which lowers the tem- 

 perature and checks the access of oxygen. 



