726 



The Value of Poultry Manure, [march, 



and thus every lOO birds reared and fattened should be worth to 

 the farmer in this way the sum of 15s. 8d. 



In the case of growing birds it is a little more difficult to 

 estimate, but on the basis previously laid down it was shown 

 that up to six months old a chicken of the larger breeds will 

 produce 25 lb. "5 oz. of fresh manure, which, according to 

 analyses I., VII., and VIII., would represent a manurial value 

 of 2'8d. Thus every 100 chickens raised to the age stated 

 should produce manure of the value of ^ i 3s. 4d. 



Assuming the life of fowls used for breeding or laying stock 

 to be 2^ years, the manurial return in that time would be : — 



s. d. 



P'irst six months ... ... ... ... o 2"8 



Seven to eighteen months ... ... ... I i 



Nineteen to thirty months ... ... ... i i . 



Total 24-8 



Taking the quantity of manure -produced and the valurs as 

 revealed by analysis, it is found that the value of the manure per 

 head per annum of other adult stock is as follows : — Ducks, 3s. 

 per annum ; geese, 2s. per annum ; turkeys, is. 6d. per annum. 



The lower values of goose and turkey manures, considering 

 the large quantities produced, may be explained by the fact 

 that these birds obtain a much larger proportion of natural 

 fo.od than ordinary poultry. 



Treatment of Manure. — Where manure as produced falls 

 directly on to the ground, whether arable or pasture, it may be 

 assumed that the full value is obtained if the land is cropped in 

 due rotation. Otherwise it is necessary to see that it is properly 

 stored and dried. To leave it in a heap in the open is certain 

 to lead to deterioration of its essential qualities, both from 

 washing away of soluble materials by rain and by fermentations 

 which set free ammonia and other volatile nitrogenous sub- 

 stances. Fowl excreta form a distinctly nitrogenous manure 

 which stimulates vigorous growth of the leaves^ stems and 

 roots of plants generally as much as a dressing of nitrate of 

 soda or sulphate of ammonia. It contains, however, in ad- 

 dition to nitrogen, an appreciable amount of phosphates and 

 potash in a rapidly available form, and on this account is a 

 good complete manure. Its value as an all-round fertilizer for 

 all kinds of crops can be materially enhanced by mixing it 



