VALUE OF URINE. 203 



lost to plants, for it escapes into the atmosphere as 

 ammonia during the putrefaction and decay of the 

 body. 



A high degree of culture requires an increased 

 supply of manure. With the abundance of the 

 manure, the produce in corn and cattle will augment, 

 but must diminish with its deficiency. 



From the preceding remarks it must be evident, 

 that the greatest value should be attached to the 

 liquid excrements of man and animals, when a ma- 

 nure is desired which shall supply nitrogen to the 

 soil. The greatest part of a superabundant crop, 

 or, in other words, the increase of growth which is 

 in our power, can be obtained exclusively by their 

 means. 



When it is considered that with every pound of 

 ammonia which evaporates a loss of 60 lbs. of corn 

 is sustained, and that with every pound of urine a 

 pound of wheat might be produced, the indifference 

 with which these liquid excrements are regarded is 

 quite incomprehensible. In most places only the 

 solid excrements impregnated with the liquid are 

 used, and the dunghills containing them are pro- 

 tected neither from evaporation nor from rain. The 

 solid excrements contain the insoluble, the liquid all 

 the soluble phosphates, and the latter contain like- 

 wise all the potash which existed as organic salts in 

 the plants consumed by the animals. 



Fresh bones, wool, hair, hoofs, and horn, are ma- 

 nures containing nitrogen as well as phosphates, 

 and are consequently fit to aid the process of vege- 

 table life. All animal matter is fitted for the same 

 purpose. Butchers' offal, such as the blood and 

 intestines of animals, form a most powerful manure. 

 It is in general necessary to dilute such manure by 

 admixture with other kinds less powerful in their 

 action. 



One hundred parts of dry bones contain from 32 

 to 33 per cent, of dry gelatine; now supposing this 

 to contain the same quantity of nitrogen as animal 



