fiXCREMENTS AND URINE. 95 



In one year, moreover, 



lbs. Iha. 



A cow produced from 7,500 of dry provender 3,600 of dry manure. 



Ahorse " " 7,500 « " 3,000 " " 



A sheep " « 560 " " 370 " " 



A hog " '" 1,400 « " 500 " " 



The preceding figures must in no respect be con- 

 sidered as exact; such can only be established by an 

 extended series of experiments. They will simply 

 serve to render the chemical constituents of various 

 manures, and their importance to vegetable growth, 

 more palpable to the practical farmer, and by this 

 means to exhibit the relative value of different sorts 

 of manure with greater precision than is possible by 

 mere words. They may be held sufficient until oth- 

 ers more entitled to confidence have been ascertained. 



Of the manifold circumstances which exert a pre- 

 ponderating influence upon the q^iantity and excel- 

 lence of animal manure, the following are of especial 

 importance : — 



1. Quantity/ of the Fodder. Every animal requires 

 a certain quantity of provender, in order to continue 

 in existence. This is called its life-supporting fod- 

 der. If the animal has to labor (as draught cattle), or 

 to increase largely in flesh and fat (as stalled cattle), 

 then, in addition to the food essential to its life, a 

 further quantity must be given in order to produce 

 strength, flesh, fat, or milk. This additional supply 

 of nourishment is called fodder of production. The 

 former furnishes excrements of far less value than 

 the latter, because it is absorbed and used in far lar- 



