SMALL HOLDINGS 131 



Thus it is of great importance to pro- 

 tect the dung produced upon a Small 

 Holding, and to prevent its too rapid de- 

 composition. A ton of manure of average 

 quality should contain about 12 lb. of 

 nitrogen, 12 lb. of potash, and 7 to 8 lb. of 

 phosphoric acid. The supply of rich food 

 to the stock would increase the quantities 

 of these materials, while their quantity would 

 be diminished in proportion as the food 

 is poorer, especially in such materials as 

 cotton cake, linseed cake, beans and pease, 

 which are rich in nitrogen. 



In estimating the weight of manure, 

 however, it must not be supposed that a 

 load actually weighs a ton. As a matter of 

 fact it seldom exceeds 16 cwt. Heavy dung 

 is usually well fortified with rain-water, if 

 we except that which is produced by cows 

 or fatting bullocks, which is comparatively free 

 from litter. The mixed manure of a dung 

 heap in which straw is not abundant is con- 

 siderably reduced in weight after fermenta- 

 tion or decomposition. Thus, a given 

 quantity of fresh dung is largely diminished 

 both in volume and weight by the process 

 of rotting. 



Although rotten dung is not infrequently 



