CHAPTER XLVII 



THE VALUE OF MANURE AND THE USE 

 OF ABSORBENTS 



XT O other fertilizer exerts such a powerful chem- 

 •^^ ical and mechanical effect, and no other can 

 be applied to all sorts of land with such positive 

 certainty of good results, as stable manure. Its 

 power is also peculiarly lasting. These merits 

 are quite sufficient to account for the high esteem 

 in which it is held by the farmer, and yet there is 

 reason to doubt if he does realize its value, when 

 one sees the careless way in which much of it is 

 handled. 



Five-eighths of the plant food in the manure 

 from cows is in the liquid part. Every care should 

 be taken to save the urine. A few dollars spent 

 in absorbents will bring back many dollars in 

 increased crops. 



A great loss is sustained by having the manure 

 In an open barnyard, exposed to snow and rain. 



There are only two ways manure can lose in 

 value, namely, by fermentation and by washing. 



The best way to conserve its fertility is to dis- 

 tribute it daily on the land. Getting it out in this 

 way iji the winter is a great saving of labor in the 



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