52 



MANURES 



Fish manure, — This is a most valuable manure which is not 

 yet appreciated at its proper worth. It is a general manure, 

 especially rich in phosphoric acid. It can be produced in 

 large quantities on the West Coast. The fish are simply 

 spread on the beach to dry and are subsequently pounded. 

 This generally causes a considerable amount of adulteration 

 with sand which it is impossible to remove completely : good 

 samples, however, should not contain more than 20 per cent 

 by weight. There is also a considerable proportion of oil 

 which partially prevents decomposition. Fish from which 

 the offal has been removed and tne oil extracted, are ground 

 up and sold as fish guano which is a dry powder, capable of 

 storage without decomposition and a more concentrated 

 manure than ordinary Milled Fish. There are also other bye- 

 products obtainable which however should not be purchased 

 without analysis. 



Tannery refuse. — This may consist of spent bark and of jthe 

 refuse obtained from the process of tanning. It is reported 

 to be valuable in alkaline lands. Wool, Hair, Hooves, etc., 

 are all waste products which are used as manures. They 

 are mostly nitrogenous, but their use for dry lands is not 

 recommended as they are very slow in decomposition. Round 

 Madras they are largely used for the paddy crop. 



Mill refuse. — The waste liquor from sugar or spirit 

 factories is, though very dilute, highly esteemed for irriga- 

 tion and its effects can be seen on the lands near the Nelli- 

 kuppam and Samalkota factories. Ashes too are largely 



