720 



The Value of Poultry Manure, [march, 



covering. The droppings were gathered once each day and 

 weighed immediately, so that the loss of moisture by evapora- 

 tion was very slight. In each instance the observations were 

 made for a complete week. 



Fowls Tested. — For the purpose of this experiment four fowls 

 were used, as follows : — 



A. Wyandotte cock, weight 6 lb. 12 oz., age 16 months. 



B. Faverolles hen, 5 lb. 12 oz., ,, 15 



C. Growing chicken, ,, 3 lb, 12 oz., ,, 14 weeks. 



D. Fattening bird, 3 lb. 8 oz., ,,15 



As already mentioned, the three first named were taken off 

 the grass, where the two former had been used for some months 

 as breeders, and the last (D) out of the fattening cages. In 

 this case the test commenced on the second day of cramming, 

 that iS; the twelfth day after the beginning of the fattening 

 period. 



Feeding. — During the test the feeding was exactly the same 

 as under ordinary conditions, with the exception that, as the 

 fowls were in strict confinement, they could obtain no natural 

 food. It is a question as yet undecided whether this would 

 tend to increase or decrease the quantity of manure produced. 

 Probably any difference either way would be very small indeed, 

 although the lack of exercise would tend to decrease the amount 

 of food consumed, with consequent reduction of the excreta. 

 A, B, and C were fed each day at 7.30 a.m. on soft food, con- 

 sisting of barley meal, toppings, and bran in equal parts, pre- 

 pared by cooking and supplied in a fair ration, any left being 

 removed within a reasonable time; at 12.15 P-"^- they had a 

 little wheat and barley and a plentiful supply of green food ; at 

 4.30 p.m. they had as much barley and wheat as they cared to 

 eat. Water was supplied at each time of feeding. D was 

 crammed twice a day with Sussex ground oats mixed with 

 skim milk, but no green food was given. It will be seen that 

 none of the birds received any meat or food of a stimulating 

 nature, and the diet was such as is common among poultry- 

 keepers in this country. 



Quantities of Manure Produced. — During one week (in the 

 month of June) the weights of manure produced by the re- 

 spective birds were as follov/s : — A, i lb. 13 oz. ; B, i lb. 1 1;^ oz. ; 

 C, I lb. 2\ oz. ; D, I lb. 13J oz. 



