84 The Sugar-Beet in America 
that do but little work and eat much rich food produce 
the best manure. 
Liquid manure is richer in plant-food elements than 
the solid, but it lacks the organic matter so beneficial to 
most soils. Good husbandry requires the saving of both 
the liquid and the solid manure, which can easily be kept 
together if sufficient bedding material is used to absorb 
the liquid. 
Handling farm manure. 
Experience has demonstrated that the best way to 
handle manure is to haul it out and spread it on the 
land while it is fresh. This prevents any serious loss from 
leaching or fermentation, which are the methods by which 
manure deteriorates. When left carelessly exposed to 
the weather for six months, manure loses about half its 
value. This loss can be overcome in a large measure by 
proper storage without expensive equipment. The plant- 
foods contained in manure are readily soluble and but 
little rain is required to dissolve and carry them away. 
If manure is left scattered in the open yard, it is wet 
through by every rain and the greater part of the plant- 
food is washed out before the season is over. If manure 
has to be stored for any length of time, it should be piled so 
that it cannot be leached. This may be done by putting 
it under cover or by making the pile of proper shape. 
Manure is filled with bacteria and fungi which are 
constantly at work. Some of these make the manure 
heat, causing a loss of considerable nitrogen. Since these 
destructive organisms work best in manure that is fairly 
loose and dry, their action is most easily prevented by 
