FARM MANURES 603 



507. Care of manure in the stalls. — Considerable loss 

 to manure occurs in the stable, due to fermentation and 

 leaching. Before the litter can absorb the liquid, it 

 is likely to ferment and to leach away in exceptional 

 amounts. Therefore the first care is as to bedding, which 

 should be chosen for its absorptive properties, its cost, 

 and its cleanliness. The following table 1 expresses the 

 absorptive capacity of some common litters : — 



Absorptive Power of Bedding for Water 



Per cent 



Wheat straw . 220 



Oak leaves 162 



Peat 600 



Sawdust 435 



Spent tan 450 



Air-dry humous soil 50 



Dry peat moss 1300 



Muck 200 



The amount of litter to be used is determined by the 

 character of the food. If the food is watery, the bedding 

 should be increased. In general, the litter may amount 

 to about one-third of the dry matter of the food consumed. 

 Sheep require about a pound of bedding a head, cattle 

 from eight to ten pounds, and horses from six to seven 

 pounds. No more litter than is necessary to keep the 

 animal clean and to absorb the liquid manure should be 

 used, as the excrement is thus diluted unnecessarily with 

 material which often does not carry large quantities of 

 fertilizing ingredients. 



1 Beal, W. H. Barnyard Manure. U. S. D. A., Farmers' 

 Bui. 192. 1904. 



