58 TALKS ON MANURES. 



vent loss. We have uot only less maiuiro to draw out and spread, 

 but the plant-food which it contains, is more soluble and active. 

 The table we have given shows that there is little or no loss of 

 valuable constituents, even when manure is fermented in the open 

 air and exposed to ordinary rain and snows during an English 

 winter. But it also shows tliat when the manure has been fer- 

 mented for six months, and is then turned and left exposed to the 

 rain of spring and summer, the loss is very considerable. 



The five tons (10,000 lbs.,) of fresh manure placed in a heap on 

 the 8d of November, are reduced to 7,138 lbs. by the aoth of April. 

 Of this 4,707 lbs. is water. By the 2ad of August, the heap is re- 

 duced to 7,025 lbs., of which 5,804 lbs. is water. There is nearly 

 600 lbs. more water in the heap in August than in April. 



Of total nitrogen in the heap, there is 64.;} lbs. in the fresh 

 manure, 6;}. 9 lbs. in April, and only 46.3 lbs. in August. This is a 

 great loss, and there is no (compensating gain. 



We have seen that, when five tons of manure is fermented for six 

 months, in winter, the nitrogen in the soluble organic matter is 

 increased from 14.9 lbs. to 21.4 lbs. This is a decided advantage 

 But when the manure is kept for another six months, this soluble 

 nitrogen is decreased from 21.4 lbs. to 13.2 ll-.s. We lose over 8 

 lbs. of the mopt active and availa])le nitrogen. 



And the same remarks will apply to the valuable soluble mineral 

 matter. In the five tons of fresh manure there is 154 Ib.s. of soluble 

 mineral matter. By fermenting the heap six months, we get 204 

 lbs., but by keeping the manure six months longer, the soluble 

 mineral matter is reduced to 138 lbs. We lose 66 lbs. of valu- 

 able soluble mineral matter. 



By fermenting manure for six months in winter, we greatly im- 

 prove its condition; by keepin^r it six months longer, we lose 

 largely of the very best and most active parts of the manure. 



