USE AN ABSORBENT 449 



and phosphoric acid should be added. This will make it a more 

 efficient fertihzer generally. 



To Preserve Manure. — ^From an agricultural standpoint, the 

 successful treatment of poultry manure resolves itself into three 

 problems : First, to prevent the loss of the nitrogen ; second, to add 

 sufficient phosphorus and potassium in forms available for plant 

 food to make a balanced fertilizer; and third, to improve the phy- 

 sical condition so that it can be applied to the land in an econom- 

 ical manner, either in a fertilizer drill or with a manure spreader. 



From.-the poultryman's point of view, these same questions 

 are of interest, and the idea is to work out a scheme that will 

 serve every purpose. The poultryman is anxious to prevent the 

 loss of nitrogen, because in so doing offensive odors are kept 

 down; and it is desirable to improve the condition of the drop- 

 pings by drying them out, because they are handled easier at 

 cleaning time, and the condition of the roosting compartments 

 is vastly more sanitary. 



Acid phosphate and kainit both prevent the loss of nitrogen, 

 and if these are added to the manure in connection with sawdust, 

 land plaster or some other absorbent (good dry loam or peat will 

 answer nicely), there will result a well-balanced fertilizer. For 

 example, a mixture of 30 pounds of hen manure, 10 pounds of 

 sawdust, 16 pounds of acid phosphate, and 8 pounds of kainit 

 will test about 0.25 per cent nitrogen, 4.5 per cent phosphoric 

 acid, and 2.0 per cent potash. 



Need for Absorbent. — The addition of kainit or acid phosphate 

 by itself makes the manure quite moist and sticky, hence the 

 necessity for a drier. Any absorbent may be used that can be 

 obtained at low cost, for the amount of plant food added by the 

 drier is of small consequence. Because of its slight acidity, 

 peat has some advantage, since it will help to preserve the 

 nitrogen. As a general rule, however, the farmer heed only 

 concern himself with the selection of a material that will keep 

 down odors and absorb the moisture, since the addition of 

 kainit and acid phosphate will prevent the loss of the nitrogen. 

 Do not use wood ashes, for they tend to liberate the ammonia. 

 29 



