i9o6.] Use of Waste Organic Substances. 



69 



their fineness ; high grade samples of horn shavings and finely- 

 ground horns yielding 15 to 17 per cent, of ammonia are 

 largely used by market gardeners. On the other hand, zvhole 

 hoofs and horns and materials like trotter scutch (consisting 

 of hair, hoof, and bone), sometimes bought by farmers, are of 

 little value until they have been finely ground. 



Rabbit Flick {Rabbit Waste). — This consists of the ears, feet, 

 tail, and various other portions of the outside of rabbits. The 

 mechanical condition is usually very fair, but if the substance 

 could be broken up a little more its value would be increased. 

 It yields from 13 to 15 per cent, of ammonia, and sells at about 

 i,6per ton ; the unit value of the ammonia is therefore about 8s. 

 A certain amount of phosphate is invariably present. Rabbit 

 waste is regarded by many practical men as quite a useful 

 fertilizer; its only drawback is that the supply is rather restricted. 



Slaughter- House Refuse, Viscera, &c. — The proper way to 

 utilize slaughter-house refuse is to convert it into meat meal or 

 guano, in which form it can easily be carried about without 

 interference from sanitary authorities. Where those who con- 

 tract to clean out cattle markets have the refuse removed in 

 barges it finds its way to waterside farms. It is worth about 

 the same price as town stable manure. 



Waste Fish. — East Kent farmers are very partial to waste fish 

 as a manure, and the loads of sprats and of " five fingers " occa- 

 sionally obtainable are disposed of without difficulty. Its use 

 IS not confined to hops ; I have seen it applied with great 

 advantage to mangolds. Owing to its particularly penetrating 

 and unpleasant odour it is, as a rule, only available in districts 

 directly connected with the sea. 



Fish guano and meat guano, although obtained from animal 

 carcases, have not been specifically dealt with in the preceding 

 pages, because they are now definite manufactured manures and 

 no longer waste substances. 



2. Residues from Manufactures. 



Damaged Cakes. — Occasionally, damaged cakes, or meals or 

 cakes unsuitable for feeding purposes, are offered to farmers as 

 manure, and where it is possible to have them finely ground 

 they are very useful substances. Rape meal really belongs to 

 this category, and in view of its uniformity may be taken as the 

 standard in fixing a maximum price. 



