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MANURE 



The most important by-product of the farm in so far as soil 

 fertility is concerned is manure. Yet there is no other product 

 which is wasted to a greater extent. The waste is usually greater 

 in new than in old districts, due chiefly to the belief of the farmer 

 in new districts that manure is unnecessary for his soil because 

 his virgin soil is producing good crops without it. Moreover, 

 many farmers do not understand the value of farm manure and 

 its great loss if not properly handled. 



Composition. — There are a number of factors which deter- 

 mine the value of manure: 



I. The composition of a manure is dependent upon the feed 

 and the bedding received by the cattle. The average composi- 

 tion of some common feeds is given below: 



Peed 



Pounds in I Ton of Produce 





Nitrogen 



Phosphorus 



Potassium 



Alfalfa hay 

 Timothy hay 

 Wheat straw 

 Wheat 



Corn 



5° 



10 

 48 

 33 



4.5 

 3 



8 

 6 



24 

 24 



% 



9 



7 



The quantity of the various constituents which are retained by 

 an animal varies with the age and species. However, taking into 

 account of the different animals found on the average farm it is 

 conservative to assume that 50 per cent of the dry matter and 

 80 per cent of the total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium occur 

 in the solid and liquid excreta. Now, it is evident from these 



