FARM- YARD MANURE. 



119 



Farm-yard manure consists usually of the mixed excrements 

 of the animals of the farm, together with the litter used for 

 their bedding. To it are added any waste organic matters 

 occurring near the farmstead, including animal offal of various 

 kinds, vegetable refuse, and too often the waste matter from 

 the thrashing machine, often containing the seeds of weeds. 



According to German authorities the average amount of 

 manure yielded per day per head by the various animals of 

 the farm may be taken as the following : 



American estimates are much higher* : 



Composition of manure. 



Manure 

 per day. 



Animal. Food. 



Cows ... Hay, silage, bran, 

 cotton-seed meal, 



&c 81-5ft. 



Horses t Hay and oats 52-5 ,, 



Sheep ... Grain, beets, & hay 7'2 ,, 

 Pigs ... Maize meal 3'5 ,, 



Nitrogen. Potash. 



50% 



47% 



1-00% 



83% 



29% 



94% 



1-21% 



61% 



Phosphorus 

 pentoxide. 



45% 

 39% 



04% 



The composition of the manure produced on a farm must 

 vary considerably owing to a great number of varying con- 

 ditions. It is obvious, therefore, that any particular analysis 

 is of little value as a means of judging of the nature of manure 

 produced in other cases. Large numbers of analyses have 

 been published, some showing in great detail the substances 

 present. An often quoted series of analyses of farm-yard 

 manure was made by Voelcker many years ago. 



A summary of his results, as quoted by Storer,J is here 

 given : 



* Bulletin 27 of the New York Cornell Station. 



t The horses were working. The quantities are estimated on the assumption that 

 three-fifths of the manure was collected. 

 t Agriculture, &c., Vol. I., p. 521. 



