16 The Colorado Experiment Station. 
similar medium, a large part of the ammonia with its 82 per cent of 
nitrogen might have been saved instead of passing off into space. 
If absorbents are impractical, then the stables should be so con¬ 
structed that the urine from the animals housed therein will drain 
into a pit or cistern prepared for this purpose. It should not be al¬ 
lowed to accumulate for any length of time, but should be sprayed 
or sprinkled upon the soil at once since there is considerable loss 
from standing. Since ammonium carbonate is a volatile substance, 
when manure is allowed to dry there is very great danger of the 
carbonate disintegrating and the ammonia escaping. For this rea¬ 
son, it is a poor policy, especially under our arid conditions, to 
spread manure on a field any length of time before it is to be plowed 
under. For the same reason, a manure pit is preferable to the or¬ 
dinary compost heap. This should be located so that ditch water 
can be turned in from time to time and the proper moisture con¬ 
ditions maintained. 
Throughout our study of the decay of nitrogenous material, 
we are chiefly concerned with the destiny of the nitrogen. This 
we have found is either set free as ammonia by the ammonifying 
bacteria during the process of ammonification or converted into 
ammonium carbonate by the uro-bacteria. If liberated as am¬ 
monia, it will either escape into the air or unite with carbonic acid, 
which is usually present during this fermentation, to make am¬ 
monium carbonate. In this form it is less apt to get away, if prop¬ 
erly handled, and as such it will await the further changes to be 
initiated by the nitrifying organisms. 
Soil bacteria, as a general thing, have greater endurance, and 
can withstand more severe treatment than other plants with which 
we are more familiar. Their growth and development in the soil 
are governed largely by conditions which are in man’s control. 
They require about the same amount of moisture as other crops; 
a temperature of 82°—86° F. suits them; a well drained, aerated, 
thoroughly cultivated soil, abundantly supplied with organic mat¬ 
ter favors their growth. They will not succeed well in acid land, 
and if such a condition exists, it should be corrected by liming. 
Another factor which cannot be lost sight of is the beneficial 
as well as detrimental influence which our alkali salts may exert 
upon the micro-organisms. Lipman' of California, in his recent 
studies upon the effect of alkali salts upon ammonification has 
shown that ordinary salt, sodium chloride, and sodium sulphate 
flyipman, Chas. B., Toxic Effects of “Alkali Salts” in Soils on Soil Bacteria. I. Atnmoni- 
fication; Cent, f, Bakt- Abt. II., Bd. 32. No. 1-2, p. 58, 1911. 
