STABLE MANURE 



These variations are not wide enough to have 

 great importance to the livestock farmer. The 

 manure represents to him four fifths of all the 

 fertility that was contained by the feed he gave 

 the various animals. They added no plant-food, 

 and they took away only a fraction that was not 

 large. They converted the crops into a form of 

 plant-food that either is available or can become 

 so quickly enough, and in addition to the nitrogen, 

 phosphoric acid, and potash that would have a 

 high valuation in a commercial fertilizer, there is 

 a body of organic matter that affects the physical 

 condition of the soil favorably. The manure also 

 promotes the multiplication of friendly soil bac- 

 teria. Its possibilities are so great that the in- 

 ference of many farmers that no successful agricul- 

 ture can be maintained without it is very natural. 



Amount of Manure. Vivian states that the 

 amount of manure that may be made from feed 

 can be determined by multiplying the total weight 

 of dry matter in the feed by 3. This assumes 

 that bedding will be used in sufficient amount to 

 absorb the urine, and that will require material 

 containing one fourth as much dry matter as there 

 is in the feed. When the amount of hay and grain 

 is known, and the dry matter in all succulent feed 



[127] 



