STALL-MANURE AND STRAW. 129 



In the first case, 5 lbs., whose approximate value is 4s. 6d. 

 " second " 10 " " " " 9s. 



" third « 20 " " " " 18s. 



if the 100 cwt. of fresh manure is supposed to con- 

 tain 40 lbs. of nitrogen. A load of unctuous manure 

 will indeed excite a somewhat greater action on the 

 soil than a load of fresh manure (both being assumed 

 to be of equal weight) ; but the increased operation is 

 in no case so considerable as the increased cost of the 

 former. If a load of fresh manure is valued at 9^., 

 then a load of unctuous manure may be reckoned at 

 155. (since to obtain the latter 1§ loads of the former 

 were required), without any reference whatever to 

 the loss incurred by the volatilization of manuring 

 elements, which is of course to be added to the esti- 

 mate in a calculation of its price. 



Fresh manure is further distinguished from rotten 

 by the circumstance, that it renders the soil looser 

 and keeps it warmer than the latter ; the first, be- 

 cause its strawy parts prevent the baking of the 

 clods, and by breaking them to pieces render them 

 penetrable by the gases set at freedom ; the latter, 

 because the heat of fermentation is generated in 

 the soil and communicated directly to it, whilst in 

 manure rotted previously upon the dung-heap it 

 was liberated and radiated in the air. Accordingly, 

 fresh manure will prove especially serviceable to 

 cold and heavy land, — for instance, clay and loam 

 soils, — since here, in addition to its chemical ac- 

 tion as a manure, it exerts a salutary operation in 



