THE FERTILIZING VALVES OF FEEDIXGSTUFFS 327 



tlien probably about 15 or 20 per cent of the nitrogen will 

 be lost. However, if no precautions are taken, fully 50 

 per cent of the nitrogen may be lost by fermentation. 



Thus in order to get the most value from the manure, it 

 should be hauled to the field and spread as soon as possible 

 after it is produced, or it should be allowed to accumulate 

 in the stalls or in covered sheds in compact and moist con- 

 dition, sufficient bedding being used to keep the animals 

 clean, and then hauled to the fields at convenient intervals. 

 In no case should it be allowed to heat and ferment before 

 being spread if its full value is to be secured. In live-stock 

 farming the rotation should be so planned that there is always 

 a place to haul and spread manure as soon as possible after 

 it is produced. 



The Commercial Values of Feeds as Fertilizers. — Most 

 of us do not think of our ordinary feedingstuffs as having 

 a commercial value as fertilizers. However, as a matter of 

 fact, the lower grades of tankage are often applied directly 

 to the land as a fertiUzer, while in the South cottonseed meal 

 is often used as a fertiUzer. Ordinarily the stock-farmer of 

 the corn-belt does not apply the feeds directly to the soil 

 but he first obtains their feeding value b}^ feeding them to 

 his animals and then applies the manure to the soil, thus 

 obtaining both their nutritive value and from 80 to 90 per 

 cent of their fertiUzing value. Inasmuch as all feeding- 

 stuffs have a certain fertilizing value, it is of interest and 

 value to know just what some of the common feeds are worth 

 as fertilizers after their value as feed has been obtained by 

 the animal. We have seen that about 90 per cent of the 

 nitrogen, 90 per cent of the potassium, and 75 per cent of the 

 phosphorus of the ration is recovered in the manure. Know- 



