126 



Fertilizers 



Where the practice of storing chicken manure in a bin 

 or discarded corn crib is common, as is so generally the 

 case in small-fruit and poultry farms, it is not probable 

 that the moisture is as low as in the analyses of air-dried 

 manure given above. It is more likely to be in the neigh- 

 borhood of 20 per cent and the percentage of the fertility 

 elements is relatively less. Hence, even in the best con- 

 dition, these products compare favorably with commer- 

 cial fertilizers only in their content of nitrogen. Naturally 

 they also vary in their composition, according to the char- 

 acter of food used in their production. 



Floor sweepings from poultry houses are also valuable. 

 The kind and amount of litter used is the cause of wide 

 variations in the composition of such material. In general, 

 it is very dry and fine, hence capable of even distribution. 



Pigeon manure differs but little from hen manure in 

 composition, though usually it is much drier and some- 

 what richer in nitrogen. 



