io8 SOILS AND FERTILIZERS 



Care of Manure. --The great sources of loss in the 

 value of manure are: (i) leaching, that is, percola- 

 tion of water through it, (2) running off of the liquid 

 portion, and (3) fermentation, by which nitrogen es- 

 capes as ammonia or in other gaseous nitrogen com- 

 pounds. If loss is to be prevented, the causes of loss 

 must be removed. If manure could be put on the land 

 as soon as made, all its fertility could be utilized and the 

 labor expense of handling it twice would be saved; but 

 as this is not always practicable, the next best thing is to 

 save as much of its richness as possible. Manure left 

 where it will get the drippings from the eaves, or open to 

 rain and snow, will lose half its value through leaching. 

 This may be prevented by covering the manure. 

 Many farmers now build covered barnyards, so that the 

 manure is not leached by the falling rain and snow nor 

 dried so quickly by the sun and wind. The stock pack 

 the manure, and this helps to keep it moist and prevents 

 fermentation. If straw is used for bedding, it will 

 help to absorb the moisture, while it in itself will, by 

 its decay, furnish plant food. 



If a cement floor is used, still further loss is prevented. 

 The addition of acid phosphate or gypsum to the ma- 

 nure pile will retard the fermentation and thus help to 

 retain the nitrogen. (See pages 55, 117.) 



Note. Shavings or sawdust are often used as bedding, and when 

 straw cannot be obtained they are necessary substitutes. Shavings 

 contain very little of the fertilizing elements, and their decay, when 

 mixed with the manure, is very slow. On this account straw is pre- 

 ferred for bedding. 



Application of Manure. Many farmers apply ma- 

 nure in the late summer or fall and harrow it in. If 



