FARM MANURES 357 



the urine and to increase the bulk of the manure 

 so that it can be distributed more evenly. Straw 

 is most generally used and is quite satisfactory. 

 Marsh hay, cornstalks, leaves, sawdust and shav- 

 ings are used more or less. The two latter should 

 be used in moderate quantities; in large amounts 

 they lower the value of the manure. Pine needles 

 are believed to injure the manure. Fine, dry sand 

 or soil is, sometimes used to advantage, and oc- 

 casionally peat or muck. These earthy materials 

 have greater value for bedding than strawy mate- 

 rials because they absorb ammonia gas as well as 

 liquids, and so save nitrogen and keep the air of 

 the stable sweet. 



The plan of collecting the liquid manure and 

 distributing it upon the fields by means of a tank 

 with a sprinkling attachment has not been found 

 generally practicable. Ordinarily it is more satis- 

 factory to absorb the liquid manure with bedding. 



The use of bedding will not entirely prevent the 

 loss of plant food from the stable. There is al- 

 ways a considerable amount of ammonia escaping, 

 as the sharp odour about stables bears evidence. 

 This can be prevented by using chemical ab- 

 sorbents which enter into combination with the 

 ammonia, making a salt of ammonia that is not 

 volatile. Land plaster (gypsum) is most com- 

 monly used for this purpose. Kainit and super- 

 phosphate are used to some extent, enriching the 

 manure not only with the nitrogen they eaten but 

 also with the plant food they contain. These 

 materials should be scattered in the stables at 

 the rate of one to two pounds per animal 

 daily, and also over the manure piles. Dry 

 sand, earth, peat or muck answer quite well 

 for this purpose. 



