ANALYSIS OF MANURES. 
493 
Morin's analysis consists of — 
Water 7000 
Vegetable fibre 24-08 
Green resin and fat acids . . \'5Q 
Undecomposed biliary matter . "60 
Peculiar extractive matter . . 1*60 
Albumen -40 
Biliary resin 180 
100 00 
M. PERROT S. 
Water 69-58 
Bitter matter -74 
Sweet substance '93 
Chrophyle -28 
Albumen *63 
Muriate of soda *08 
Sulphate of potash "05 
Sulphate of lime '25 
Carbonate of lime *24 
Phosphate of lime '26 
Carbonate of iron *09 
Woody fibre 26-39 
Silica '14 
Loss -14 
* 100 00 
With these discrepancies before us, how 
can it be expected that we, the uninitiated in 
the mysteries of chemistry, can arrive at any 
conclusion as to the value of cow dung as a 
manure ? The amount of water in cow dung 
is very large, and it is said to be the least 
valuable of animal manures, although used as a 
standard, much in the same way as copper coin 
might be used as a standard for the value of the 
better metals ; but nothing could be more un- 
certain than cow dung, in consequence of its 
large quantity of water, because if exposed it 
would not be of the same value two days together. 
The water would evaporate, consequently 
dried cow dung having lost the greater part 
of its water would become a much more 
valuable manure. The author of the Muck 
Manual says, that without violence to chemistry 
the composition of cow dung may be stated as 
follows : — 
Geine 15*45 
Salts -95 
Water 83 60 
100 00 
Proceeding in the same chemical expression 
and classification of contents, the following 
are the results of several other manures : — 
* This is as it appears in print, but it is wrongly 
added, because the sum is 99-80. However, this affects 
not our objection to the strange want of uniformity in 
the terms of the various results. 
HORSE DUNG. 
Geine 27*00 
Salts -96 
Water 71 20 
9916 
It is not so stated, but doubtless the deficiency 
in the hundred parts is loss ; but the value of 
manure consists in its capacity to produce 
ammonia, of which we shall offer a notice 
presently. Night soil by analysis yields 
Geine 235 
Salts 1-2 
Water 75-3 
1000 
We are informed then by Mr. Falkner, that 
the following are the ultimate results of the 
three manures : — 1001b. cow dung will yield 
of carbonate of ammonia about 21b. 2oz., horse 
dung 31b. and nearly a quarter, and night soil 
151b. and nearly a third. The presence of 
nitrogen, which regulates the capacity of a 
manure to produce ammonia, determines the 
true value of the article, inasmuch as, by uniting 
with hydrogen, it produces pure ammonia. As 
a passing remark, we may observe that pig 
dung is supposed to be upon an equality with 
night soil ; but it must always be recollected 
that a difference of food makes a difference in 
the relative qualities of the dung of all ani- 
mals. The experiments undertaken by the 
Prussian authorities, to ascertain whether the 
contents of the sewers of Berlin and Dres- 
den could be applied to fertilizing the adjacent 
land, seems to prove that if land unmanured 
produced three bushels for one sown, then ■ — 
Cow dung would produce ... 7 
Horse dung 10 
And night soil 14 
But it is not in sewers, which are receptacles 
for every thing, that night soil could be had 
in its unmixed state, and consequently we may 
consider that as underrated in value. 
Poudret, which is a preparation of night 
soil, good or bad according to the honesty of 
the manufacturer, is ranked with guano, but 
next to night soil. The value of poudret 
depends on whether the ammonia is lost or 
saved. " If night soil be mixed with sulphate 
or muriate of lime before drying, the volatile 
carbonate of ammonia will be changed into 
sulphate of ammonia and sal ammoniac. Thus 
not only the most valuable portion of night 
soil will be retained, but the salts of lime will 
be much increased. The mixture will be 
perfectly inoffensive, and allowing ground 
peat and plastic with the other salts to form 
one half of the dry mixture, there is then in 
every lOOlbs. fertilizing proportions equal to 
