MANURE 



MANURE 



other absorbents, are usually spoken of as barn Manures. nures when spread over the mass from time to time in 



Commercial Manures or "fertilizers" are usually eoncen- small quantities. The quantity and value of Manure 



trated forms of nitrogen, potash and phospboric acid, made by domestic animals is not realized by those who 



mixed or unmixed (see Fertilisers); green Manures are allow it to be scattered over large, open barnyards or 



living plants plowed under to furnish humus and increase allow it to remain for considerable periods under the 



productivity; amendments are substances, such as lime, eaves of the barn. Extended experiments at the Cornell 



which may increase the growth and healthfulness of Experiraeut Station showed that the following amounts 



plants by improving the physical con of excrements were produced 



ditoin of the soil and by setting free un- j(f, daily for each 1 ,000 pounds of live 



available plant- food. In general farm- JFY'S weight of animal: 



ing, barn Manures are usually applied in ^ 0'/.f ^■^■..j Slippp M.l lbs. 



the raw or unrotted state; in horticul- \, / :' -"'■^ i:i;v., r,;.» lbs. 



ture, rotted or partially rotted Horse '^^ ■■ i'- - :: i; lbs. 



n ^\ ;.;:;:.:■■;;..::;::. :i; J il;^: 



t i ' fouU :;L>.i-lbs. 



,^?%t- Animals fed ou a highly nitro- 



AC^X -<».-». 'SSiir ^ ' genous or narrow ration (as 1:4), 



?'^ !^9/ ^e. '^^^^^~— ^ ^ ~^ ''^ '"*'''® *''® P'^** '° "'® ^^"'^^ '°" 



l\, ' /^ "y^t -^ I ' >. ' vestigations. consume large 



quantities of water and produce 



a large amount of Manure, the 



weight of which often exceeds 



^ the amount of food consumed; 



"""-^^ while those fed on a carbonaceous 



_, ^ or wide ration (as 1:9) consume 



V comparatively little water and 



i< produce less weight of manure. 



,| > \ / Some conditions affecting the 



/^ y/rJL.-«\ I ' production of Manure and its 



U^4\ir^ \ I value may be stated as follows: 



' / ' \ \ / lithe plant-food value of Manure 



■^ \ \j "^, is computed at the price that is 



/ - paid for the same constituents in 



fertilizers, it is found that the 

 value of Manure produced by ani- 



V mals is equal to 30 to 50 per cent 

 ^3CV I of the cost of their food. Young 



•'^'^ \ V.^ Ij animals produce poorer Manure 



f than mature ones. The excre- 



II ments of animals which give a 



V product, as milk or young, are 

 A poorer than those from non-pro- 



1 ductive animals. The more abun- 

 1 dant the ration the less complete 

 ' the digestion and the greater the 



value of the Manure produced. 



Concentrated and nitrogenous 



foods result in richer and more 



1369. Manihot. valuable excrements than uncon- 



The plant whose roots produce tapioca, centrated or carbonaceous foods. 



fti^oT, Qsi 1 Liberal saltmg and excessively 



(See p. 1181.) succulent foods diminish the 



value of Manures. The amount 

 Manure is used for hotbeds, while cow Manure, mixed and kind of bedding affect not only the quantity but 

 with soil, is best for forming a moist, rich, potting the value per ton. Animals kept in cold quarters drink 

 earth. Dung, the solid voidings of animals, after weath- little water, digest their food closely and produce a Ma- 

 ering for a time, is also a valuable addition to potting nure relatively small in amount and poor in quality, 

 earth. I'hui :- ■in n I, .p a number of dairy cattle that Rich Manures are relatively more valuable per unit 



an abunl I i vine Manure, which is so vain- of contained fertility than poor ones. Plants are most 



ableintli i i.:it hand. Commercial Manures beneflteb when they receive extra nourishment in the 



aroused in -nini III 11! 1 11 11-s, either direct or in solution. early stages of their growth. Coarse, low-grade Ma- 

 Nitrogeu 5iiiiiiiluii>. iln- vegetative system and tends to nures should be weathered or rotted to improve their 

 produce rapid growth and dark foliage. Phosphoric acid, availability, even though some loss may occur. A unit 

 amongother effects, has that of producing well-developed of plant-food in high-grade fertilizers or well-preserved, 

 plump seeds and fruits; potash may augment these ef- rotted Manures is worth more than in low grades. The 

 fects, as well as increase and intensify the color of the valuable constituents in farm Manures are not soquickly 

 bloom. available as they are in high-grade fertilizers, but they 



Barn Manures are more highly prized than formerly. have an additional value, since they furnish humus, 

 Waste of their valuable const'ituents is now largely lighten the soil and increase its power to hold moisture, 

 avoided either by applying them to the land day by day, while assisting in liberating the mineral constituents of 

 as they are produced, or by more rational methods of the soil. The value of Manure as set down below is 

 caring for them until they are partly rotted or oppor- determined by investigations during the winter months, 

 tunity is afforded for most suitable application to the and the nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash are com- 

 land. Covered yards or pits are now sometimes used puted at 15, 6 and 4% cents per pound, respectively. 

 for temporarily storing Manures, where they can have The indirect beneficial effects of Manure are considered 

 water added if too dry and if likely to "flrefang;" or an equal offset for the slightly less availability of their 

 absorbents, such as straw, dry muck, gypsum and the plant- food constituents as compared with fertilizers: 

 like, may be used if they are too watery. When bedding Kind nf Manure. Tahu per ton. 



is abundant, the animals m.ay take their exercise in the Sheep $-1 ™ 



covered yard, as they will solidify the Manure by tramp- Calves 2 17 



ing it, thereby diminishing loss by too rapid fermenta- P'es J -^ 



tion. Salt and gypsum both conserve plant-food in ma- Horses 2 21 



