196 



tically all the fertilising constituents consumed in the food, Growing 

 animals and milch cows excrete from 50 to 75 per cent of the fertili- 

 sing constituents of the food ; fattening or working animals from 90 to> 

 95 per cent. As regards the fertilising value of equal weights of 

 manure in its normal condition, farm animals probably stand in the fol- 

 lowing order : Poultry, sheep, pigs, horses, cows. 



(7) In a given class of animals the value of the manure is determined 

 more by the nature of the food than by any other factor. The amounts 

 of fertilising constituents in the manure stand in direct relation to 

 those in the food. As regards the value of manure produced the con- 

 centrated feeding stuffs, such as mf at scrap, cotton-seed meal, linseed 

 meal, and wheat bran stand first, the leguminous plants (clover, peas, etc.) 

 second, the grasses third, cereals (oats, corn, etc.) fourth, and root crops, 

 such as turnips, beets, and mangel-wurzels last. 



The nitrogen of the food exerts a greater influence on the quality of 

 the manure than any other constituent. It is the most costly fertilising- 

 constituent, and is present in largest quantity. It undergoes more 

 modifications in the animal stomach than the mineral constituents 

 (potash and phosphoric acid), and rapidly escapes from the manure- 

 in fermentation. The secretion of urine increases with the increase 

 of nitrogenous substances in the food, thus necessitating the use 

 of larger amounts of litter and affecting both the amount and value- 

 of the manure. The use of watery foods, as is obvious, produces the 

 same result. 



(8) The deterioration of manure results from two chief causes, (a) 

 fermentation, whereby nitrogen, either as ammonia or in the gaseous 

 state, is set free, and (b) weathering or leaching, which involves a loss- 

 of the soluble fertilising constituents. The loss from destructive fer- 

 mentation may be almost entirely prevented by the use of proper" 

 absorbents, and preservatives, such as gypsum, superphosphate, and 

 kainit, and by keeping the manure moist and compact. Loss from 

 leaching may be prevented by storage under cover or in pits. Extremes 

 of moisture and temperature are to be avoided, and uniform and mod- 

 erate fermentation is the object to be sought. To this end it is advis- 

 able to mix the manure from the different animals thoroughly in the 

 heap. 



(9) When practicable it is best to apply manure in the fresh condition. 

 The disposition to be made of the manure of the farm (both fermented 

 and unfermented) must be determined largely by the nature of the crop 

 and soil. Where improvement of the mechanical condition of the soil 

 is the principal object sought, fresh manure is best adapted for this 

 purpose to heavy soils and well-rotted manure to light soils. Where 

 prompt action of the fertilising constituents is desired, the best results 

 will probably be obtained by applying fresh manure to the light soils, 

 although excessive applications in this case should be avoided on account 

 of the danger of " burning out" of the soil in dry seasons. Fresh, 

 manure has a forcing effect, and is better suited to grasses and forage 

 plants than to plants grown for seed such as cereals. Direct applica- 

 tions to root crops, such as sugar beets, potatoes or tobacco, often prove 

 injurious. The manure should be spread when carried to the field, and 

 not left in heaps to leach. 



The rate of application must be determined by individual circuin-- 



