MANURES 



to be comparatively slow. FIRMIXGKR, in JUrtfTa, stated : " I have 

 often used it for a manure ; but^ietTas it seems to me. with any 

 marked advantage. Sheep's dung, being similar, would probably 

 give like results." 



Poultry dung. The dung of fowls is somewhat similar to 

 guano, though far le>s valuable than that material, weight for weight. 

 The difference in quality is largely due to the fact that the food of 

 fowls is very different from the tish diet of the sea-birds which 

 produce guano. Fowl manure usually contains about 2 to 4 per 

 cent, of nitrogen, while good Peruvian guano may contain as much 

 as 20 per cent. 



Night-soil. It has often been stated that there is no manure 

 equal in fertilising value to night-soil. The late DR. BOXAVIA, of 

 Lucknow, confirmed this opinion, and found that night-soil pro- 

 duced special " richness of colour in Mowers, and vigour and succ- 

 ulence in vegetables." On the Continent of Europe, night-soil is 

 highly valued as a manure. 



Poudrette. In some large European and American towns, 

 night-soil is dried and made into a transportable form which is 

 sold under the name of poudrette ; but as it is prepared by adding 

 largely such materials as gypsum, ashes, earth, sawdust, etc.. the 

 mixture is considered to form but a poor fertiliser. 



Blood meal. This is usually considered an excellent manure, 

 being rich in nitrogen (2 to 15 % ). FIRMIXGKR. however, in speak- 

 ing of his experience of it in India, said : " I discovered no advantage 

 whatever in the use of such a manure over that of decayed cowdung, 

 while the unforeseen nuisances attending it determined me never to 

 use it again." BAMBKR recommends it in Ceylon as a useful source 

 of nitrogen. Owing to its concentrated form, it is easy of transport 

 where long and difficult journeys are concerned. It may be 

 applied to general crops at the rate of about 200 Ib. per acre. 



Fish guano. Fish manures form very valuable fertilisers, 

 containing as they do a high percentage of ammonia, combined 

 with a fair proportion of phosphate. Their decomposition is very 

 rapid, and the quantity applied to the land must be limited owing 

 to their considerable strength. Such manures are more safely used 

 if mixed in a compost of soil and refuse, so that their powerful 

 fertilising properties can be more evenly distributed. In Ceylon, 

 Hsh guano is used with good effect for coconuts and other culti- 

 vations near the sea-coast, being applied at the rate of about 500 Ib. 



