12G FARM-YARD MANURE. 



The animal matter too, such as the solid 

 fseces, and the urine with which we assume the 

 straw to be saturated, w^ill equally be decom- 

 posed during the decay of the vegetable matter, 

 and will afford a valuable supply of saline mat- 

 ter to the growing plant. 



It may not be irrelevant to the subject now 

 under consideration to note : — That the relative 

 value of the manure of all animals, whether 

 solid or liquid, depends in very great measure 

 on the food they eat. If, for instance, the flock 

 of sheep on a farm, live wholly on green food, 

 such as grass and turnips, or on hay, it follows, 

 as a matter of course, that the excrement can 

 only consist of the refuse matter of such food 

 not assimilated by the animal, and in the case 

 now before us, as the food consists almost en- 

 tirely of carbon, and a few earthy matters, so 

 must the excrement also consist of carbon. But 

 if, instead of these carbonaceous matters, the 

 food of the sheep consists of corn or linseed cake, 

 or other substances containing nitrogen, then 

 wdll the excrement contain the nitrogen not ne- 

 cessary for the supply of the body; and arguing 

 on the reasons we have before given, it is con- 

 sequently assumed, that the excrement so 

 voided, must be more valuable as a manure. 



Hence, it is a question to be determined by 

 agriculturists themselves, as to whether it 

 would not be more to their advantage, to keep 

 their flocks and cattle generally on more nutri- 

 tious food, if only for the sake of the increased 

 value of the manure. It may be thought per- 

 haps presumptuous for an opinion on the sub- 

 ject to be off"ered here, but, notwithstanding, 



