MANURES AND MANURING 23 



likely to cause serious injury during severe drouths. 



Cow manure, in some localities, is available in 

 considerable quantities. It is a cold manure, de- 

 veloping little heat in its decomposition, which 

 takes place slowly. Excessive quantities are not 

 likely to be so injurious to the plants by causing 

 the soil to be too dry during drouthy periods. Ex- 

 cellent results are secured from its use where quick 

 and early results are not of special importance. 



Hog manure is very similar to cow manure in its 

 general characteristics, and is given about the same 

 valuation by commercial gardeners. Very small 

 quantities of this material, however, are available, 

 except in the vicinity of stockyards or large live 

 stock shipping centers. 



Sheep manure is more like horse manure in its 

 character, and when sufficiently moist decays very 

 rapidly. Its fine texture renders it especially valu- 

 able to the gardener, and its high nitrogen content 

 makes it a very important source of this element. 

 Large quantities of this manure are now prepared 

 and pulverized for garden purposes by the large 

 stockyards of the country. It is considered espe- 

 cially desirable for greenhouse, hot bed and cold 

 frame use. 



Chicken manure is without doubt the most valu- 

 able of all animal manures for garden purposes. It 

 contains a very high percentage of the elements of 

 plant food, viz., nitrogen, potassium and phos- 

 phorus, and its fine texture, when the proper ab- 

 sorbents have been used in sufficient quantities, 

 makes it easily applied. It is quickly available, and 

 for this reason highly desirable for intensive gar- 

 dening where close and continuous cropping is fol- 

 lowed throughout the season. In spite of its recog- 



