84 



coarse-fine salt. Pack the eggs in a stone jar. Put in first a 

 layer of salt, then a layer of eggs, and so on until the jar is 

 filled. Stand the eggs upon the small ends, and do not let 

 them touch. Cover them completely with salt. Set the jar in 

 a cool place. I have known eggs packed in this way to keep a 

 year, and to be as good at the end of that time for cooking as 

 if laid but a few days before. 



POULTRY MANURE A VALUABLE BY-PRODUCT 

 Poultry manure is an exceedingly valuable by-product. It 

 is a highly stimulating manure. It is also a rich plant food. 

 Poultry manure is more than twice as valuable as sheep or 

 hog manure, and more than three times as valuable as ordi- 

 nary stable manure, as the following table will show : 



Nitrogen, Phosphoric Acid, Potash, Value 



per cent. per cent. per cent. per ton. 



Sheep 0768 0.391 0.591 $3.30 



Pigs 0.840 0.390 0.320 3.29 



Cows 0.426 0.290 0.440 2.02 



Horses 0.490 0.260 0.480 2.21 



Poultry Manure 0.800 to 0.500 to 0.800 to 7.07 



2.000 2.000 0.900 



Poultry manure is so powerful that great care must be 

 taken in applying it. It should never be allowed to come into 

 direct contact with the roots of the growing plant. When 

 applied in the hill it should be well mixed with the soil. 



Poultry manure supplies nitrogen in large quantities in the 

 form of ammonia, but ammonia being a highly volatile prod- 

 uct is rapidly dissipated. The problem of the poultrymen. 

 therefore, in dealing with hen manure is to find some sub- 

 stance that will fix the ammonia. Sifted earth is not good, for 

 it is apt to contain bacteria which act destructively on the 

 ammonia compounds. Wood ashes are worse than nothing, 

 for they do not hold ammonia, but drive it off by their caustic 

 alkaline properties. 



The best thing I have found to preserve the ammonia in 

 hen manure is gypsum or land plaster, which may be bought 

 for 50 cents per 100 pounds. Scatter a few handfuls of plaster 

 over the droppings before you remove them in the morning, 

 and see that it is thoroughly incorporated. The result is a 

 compound as valuable as any commercial fertilizer. The 

 droppings from a fowl in one year, when treated in this way : 

 are worth one-half what it costs to feed her. 



