Compensation for Unexhausted Manurial Values. Ill 
Mechanical Value attaching to Straw used as 
Manure. 
It is recognised that, in addition to the mannrial constituents 
of value which straw manure possesses, it exercises a further 
benefit, one which can best be described as its “ mechanical ” 
value. This benefit is exercised alike on light and on heavy 
soils when farmyard manure made with straw is used. To 
the former class of soil it imparts “ substance ” and tends to 
retain moisture in the land ; on heavy soils it helps to open 
them out, lightens them, and renders drainage easier. These 
beneficial effects are over and above anything possessed by the 
purely manurial ingredients of the dung ; accordingly, when 
straw has been sold off the farm that ought to have been used 
as litter, we consider that the farm has been depreciated to this 
extent, and that additional compensation should be paid when 
the land has been so deprived of these benefits. 
This would not apply, however, where the hay or straw 
would normally have been given as food to stock. Moreover, 
it must be left to the valuer to determine what proportions 
should, under the ruling custom of the district, have been 
consumed, and what proportion trampled down as litter by 
stock. Also, it may be that there are cases where it can be 
clearly shown that land would not be benefited by such appli- 
cation, and is not in need of the mechanical benefits conferred 
by the use of straw dung. This, again, is a matter which must 
be left to the discretion of the valuer. 
The mechanical value of the straw thus used we consider 
to be about equal to that of its manurial benefit, and we 
consequently assign a figure of 7s. per ton to be paid as 
compensation for removal of straw, in addition to the 7s. 
per ton already allowed for its manurial value. 
We should point out that, in dealing with this matter, we 
have had purely to do with the losses of manurial material to 
the land, and not with any point that has reference to breach 
of custom, contract, or agreement. 
Food-stuffs Fed to Milking Cows. 
The question has been asked whether in the case of foods 
given to milking cows less compensation should be allowed 
than for the same foods when given to fattening beasts, 
because of the constituents taken off the farm in the form of 
milk, or by the fact of the cows carrying their calves. 
It is quite true that milking cows excrete less of the 
nitrogen, phosphoric acid, &c., in their food than do fattening 
bullocks. They are, however, pastured to a greater degree 
upon the land, under which conditions they will return more 
than do bullocks which are fed in the yard ; hence in this case 
