ISO 



Storage of Farmyard Manure. 



ditions they had an appreciable influence in retarding 

 oxidation, thus : — Manure + nothing lost 44 per cent, of dry 

 matter; manure + 3 per cent, gypsum lost 38 per cent, of 

 dry matter ; manure + 3 per cent, gypsum + 0*3 per cent, sol: 

 phosp : acid lost 37 per cent, of dry matter; manure + 2 per 

 cent, kainit lost 34 per cent, of dry matter. 



Periodic applications of water, so that the mass was kept 

 thoroughly moist, had no influence on the disappearance of 

 organic matter. 



The temperature of the manure was determined at frequent 

 intervals, and the readings agree closely with the extent of 

 the disappearance of organic matter. Thus, the temperature 

 of the pits containing firm manure fluctuated only between 

 30 deg. and 36 deg. C, whereas the manure that was loose 

 varied in temperature between 23 deg. C. and 57 deg. 

 Graphically represented, the temperature-readings in the one 

 case give a very gently-curved line ; whereas, in the other, 

 the line is jagged, the sudden rises in temperature following 

 the periodic turnings of the manure. It was only in the 

 last few weeks of the experiment that the temperature of 

 the "loose'"'' dung- was lower than that of the "firm" 

 material, when, evidently, the easily oxidised matter had so 

 completely disappeared as to offer no opportunity for the 

 action of the air, which was freely admitted at every 

 turning. 



In a further series of experiments these results were fully 

 confirmed. Although frequency of turning (on every fifth, 

 tenth, fifteenth, or twentieth day) had but little effect on the 

 temperature of the mass or on the disappearance of organic 

 matter — aeration evidently being practically as thorough 

 when the manure was turned over every twentieth day as 

 when turned every fifth — turning generally had the same 

 effect as before. Thus, six weeks after starting- the experi- 

 ment the temperature of the dung that had not been turned 

 was 23 deg. C, whereas it was 54 deg. C. in the mass that 

 had been turned every twentieth day. Corresponding to 

 these temperatures, we find at the end of five months a loss 

 of organic matter of 20 per cent, where the manure was 

 unturned, and of 51 per cent, where turning was effected 



