98 



SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



position, and is considered a cold, wet manure. It ferments slowly. 

 Hogs of average size produce 10 to 15 pounds of manure daily, and the 

 manure is somewhat richer than that from the preceding classes of animals, 

 chiefly because swine are fed more largely on rich, concentrated foods. 



Sheep Manure. — Sheep manure is drier and richer than that from 

 any of the domestic animals except poultry. It ferments easily and acts 

 quickly in the soil. It keeps well, however, when allowed to accumulate 

 in pens where it is thoroughly tramped by the animals. It is especially 

 valuable for use in flower beds or for vegetables where quick action 

 is desired. An average sheep produces about four to five pounds of 

 manure daily. 



Poultry Manure. — Poultry manure is the richest of farm manures. 

 It is especially rich in nitrogen, which is due to the fact that the urinal 

 secretions are semi-solid and are voided with the solid excrements. It 

 ferments easily, giving rise to the loss of nitrogen, and is very quick act- 

 ing when placed in the soil. It keeps best when maintained in a fairly 

 dry condition, and should be mixed with some absorbent or preservative. 

 Ground rock phosphate, gypsum or dry earth are good materials for this 

 purpose. Mixing with slaked lime, ashes or any alkaline material should 

 be avoided. These cause a liberation of ammonia, resulting in a loss of 

 nitrogen. 



The following table gives the average total production of solid and 

 liquid excrements per year of the different classes of animals, together with 

 their percentage of water, nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. 



Average Yield and Composition of Fresh Excrements of Farm Animals.* 



Dung — Solid Excrements. 



Cows . 

 Horse 

 Pigs. . 

 Sheep 

 Hen.. 



Exereted 

 per Year, 

 pounds. 



20,000 



12,000 



1.S00 



760 



30 



Water, 

 per cent. 



84.0 

 76.0 

 80.0 

 58.0 

 48.6 



Composition. 



Nitrogen, 

 per cent. 



0.30 

 0.50 

 0.60 

 0.75 

 1.38 



Phosphoric 



Ac-id, 



per cent. 



0.25 

 0.35 

 0.45 

 0.60 

 0.50 



Potash, 

 per cent. 



0.10 

 0.30 

 0.50 

 0.30 

 0.41 



Urine — Liquid Excrements. 



Cows . 

 Horse . 

 Pigs . . 

 Sheep . 



Excreted 

 per Year, 

 pounds. 



8,000 



3,000 



1,200 



380 



Water, 

 per cent. 



92.0 



89.0 

 97.5 

 86.5 



Composition. 



Nitrogen, 

 per cent. 



o.so 



1.20 

 0.30 

 1.40 



Phosphoric 



Acid, 



per cent. 



Trace 

 Trace 

 0.12 

 0.05 



Potash, 

 per cent. 



14 

 1 5 

 0.2 

 2.0 



* This table taken from Volume Five, Farmers' Cyclopedia. 



