FARM MANURES 601 



Evidently the losses by fermentation are very consider- 

 ably augmented by exposure, especially if the rainfall 

 is high. This waste not only is very considerable as 

 regards the nitrogen, but is especially high as far as the 

 organic matter is concerned. Such figures serve also 

 to emphasize again the importance of shielding manure 

 in storage from excessive rainfall. Some water is, of 

 course, necessary, but too much serves only to carry 

 away the materials already soluble or rendered soluble 

 by fermentation. 



504. Increased value of protected manure. — From 

 the previous discussion it is evident that a well-protected 

 and carefully preserved manure will be higher in plant- 

 food constituents than one not so handled. Moreover, 

 the agricultural value of such manure will be higher. 

 This is shown by actual tests from Ohio. 1 Over a period 

 of fourteen years, in a three-years' rotation of corn, wheat, 

 and hay, a stall manure gave a yield 30 per cent higher 

 than that with a yard manure, the quantities applied in 

 each case being equal. In New Jersey, in comparing 

 fresh manure with leached manure the former showed a 

 gain in crop yield 53 per cent higher than the latter over 

 a period of three years immediately following the appli- 

 cation. Such figures are worthy of careful considera- 

 tion by the average farmer. 



505. The money waste of manure. — To make the 

 seriousness of the question of waste in manures more 

 striking, the probable losses may be calculated in money 

 value for the United States. The entire live stock of all 

 kinds in this country may be roughly calculated as equiv- 



1 Thorne, C. E., and others. Plans and Summary Tables 

 of the Experiments of the Central Farm. Ohio Agr. Exp. Sta., 

 Circ. 120. 1912. 



