VII.] 



COMPOSITION OF EXCRETA 



It is thus impossible to state the composition of the 

 excreta of the various farm animals except within 

 certain wide limits, owing to the variations induced by 

 the food and the age of the animal. Table L. shows 

 certain average results which will serve to characterise 

 the different animals. 



It will be seen that the urine of sheep and horses is 

 much more concentrated than that of cattle and pigs ; 

 similarly, the solid excreta of the two former are also 

 the drier. It is this greater dryness and richness 

 which causes the gardener to describe horse manure as 

 " hotter " than that produced by either cows or pigs ; 

 bacterial changes take place in it much more rapidly, a 

 greater amount of ammonia is produced, and the rise 

 of temperature is more pronounced. 



The next factor which enters into the composition 

 of the dung is the nature of the litter on which the 

 animals are placed ; from time to time, especially among 

 small holders, various materials, such as bracken fern, 

 hop bine, leaves, even manufacturing refuse like spent tan 

 and sawdust, are used ; but on a large scale only two — 

 straw and to a less extent peat moss litter, get employed. 



