56 TRANSACTIONS. 



If the urine of a cow, for a year, were collected, it would furnish 

 about 672 lbs. of solid extract, which contains as much nitrogen, alone, 

 as 560 lbs. of the best guano, and so large a quantity of potash, that, 

 by combustion, it will yield about 170 lbs. of potash, worth, in com- 

 merce, from $20 to §25. In view of these facts, the annual urine of 

 a cow is taxed at three guineas, or about $15, in Flanders, where ag- 

 riculture has reached its highest perfection. A celebrated English 

 farmer states, that in manuring meadow land, he has obtained far 

 greater effect from 175 lbs. of sewer water from the City of Edin- 

 burgh, consisting, for the most part, of urine, than from 336 lbs. of 

 stable manure, and the same quantity of guano, as stable manure, 

 with which he manured three equal parcels of land. 



In view of such facts, every reflecting farmer must concede, that he 

 loses, annually, a large amount of fertilizing elements, in not saving 

 all the urine of his establishm.ent. In addition to this, much that is 

 poured into the drain at the " back-door," to putrefy, would, if poured 

 into a tank and saved, furnish, in the course of a year, a large amount 

 of valuable liquid manure. 



Stable manure, by being kept in pits prepared for the purpose, 

 would be worth far more than when exposed, as it too often is, to 

 sun, wind and rain. Under-ground stables protect it somewhat — 

 but those are objectionable. The fumes rising from the accumulated 

 and accumulating droppings, lying beneath the floor, constantly dif- 

 fuse themselves throughout the stable where the cattle are kept,, and, 

 thus, make the stable-air exceedingly bad — rendering it impossible to 

 give the animals anything lilie a healthful atmosphere. Another ob- 

 jection is, having the cattle stand so far from the ground. Pits for 

 the reception of the solid excrements, and tanks for the liquids 

 should be provided, so that all can be saved in such a way as not to 

 be off"ensive, either to man or beast — for the cultivated fields need 

 them. 



AVhen all the animal excrements are saved to the best advantage — ■ 

 and sufficient knowledge derived from experience is gained,so as to 

 use them in the way that shall render them inthe highest degree pro- 

 ductive in the return of crops, it will be found that farmers still need 

 more. What shall be done ? They must next resort to artificial 

 manures, as auxiliaries to gain the end desired, to wit, the maximum 

 production of every cultivated rod of ground that they till. A Saxon 

 agriculturist of much practical experience on this subject, says, "The 

 more extended employment of artificial manures is an advance in 

 farming that has already opened a new era. By this means the busi- 



