MANURE FROM BIRDe. 105 



lifte farmers of this country need awakening upon 

 the subject ot" carefully preserving their common ma- 

 nures. In Flanders, where everj' thing of the kind if 

 saved with the greatest care, the liquid manure of a 

 single cow for a year is valued at $10; here it is too 

 often allowed to escape entirely. Either they are very 

 foolish, or we are very wasteful. 



SECTION II. OF MANVKB FROM BIRDS. GUANO. 



The manure of birds is richer than that of any ani- 

 mals, for the reason that here we have the liquid and 

 solid excrements mixed together. On this account it 

 is found to be particularly rich in nitrogen, and also 

 in phosphati>s. The manure of pigeons, hens, ducks, 

 geese, and turkeys, is very valuable, and should be 

 carefully collected. The amount to be obtained from 

 ' irces may be thought so insignificant as to be 



' V of notice; but it must be remembered that 



three or Jour hundred Ujs. of such manure, that has 

 not been exposed to rain or sun, is worth at least 14 

 to 18 loads of ordinary manure. 



Guano, a substance that has been so much used 

 within the past few years, is a manure of this claas. 

 It is found in those tropical latitu<les where there is 

 seldom or rn-vcr any continuetl rain. Immens** num- 

 bers of > Imild their nests, rear their young, 

 and pass : ic, when not u|)on the wing, on the 

 rocky shores and small islets. Here their excrements 

 have accumulated, layer upon layer, for centuries, 

 remaining uniniuretl in those dry climates: betis of it 

 have occasionally been found, from 15 to 25 feet in 

 thickness. The food of these birds consists almost 

 entirely of fish, and hence their manure is remaift||i 

 bly rich in its quality. The guano, in its best stMp 

 is this manure concentrate*! by the evaporation of Iti'^ 

 watiT. ' 



