Sugar Beets. 
37 
its effects were varied, and it apparently produced important 
chemical changes in the soil, because of its fertilizing ingredients. 
§ 61. This manure contained, at the time of its application, 
45.14 per cent, of dry matter, or 28.89 tons of dry matter was 
applied per acre. 
§ 62. The ammonia in the fresh manure was equal to 0.926 
per cent, of nitrogen. This determination was made by distillation 
with magnesic oxid, to learn how much of the total nitrogen existed 
in the manure in the form of ammonia and ammonia salts; also to 
learn how great a loss might be suffered by the volatilization of this 
compound under the influence of our winds and sunshine. The 
loss in our particular case was probably large, as the weather re^ 
mained clear for some time after the application of the manure, and 
dried it out until it became very dry. The percentage of the total 
nitrogen, which was set free as ammonia by the magnesic oxid, was 
47.22 per cent., and the amount expelled by drying the manure to 
a constant weight in a water oven was 60.73 per cent, of the total. 
I do not know the power of this soil to absorb the ammonia which 
was ready formed in the manure, but it is evident that the danger 
of loss was, under the conditions given, greater than one would 
expect. Had rain fallen immediately after the application, the loss 
would have been much smaller than it probably was. 
§ 63. The total nitrogen present in the manure was 1.940 per 
cent., or the nitrogen applied was at the rate of 2,483.2 pounds per 
acre; or if we allow a loss of one fourth of the nitrogen, due to 
volatilization and failure of the soil to absorb the ammonia, there 
would remain 1,861.6 pounds to the acre. The phosphoric acid in 
the fresh manure was 0.654 per cent., or an application of 837.1 
pounds, equivalent to 1,573.4 pounds of calcic hydric phosphate per 
acre. 
§ 64. The potassic oxid equaled 2.427 per cent of the fresh 
manure, or a dressing of 4,077.36 pounds of potassic oxid to the 
acre, equivalent to 8,543.11 pounds of potassic sulphate. We have 
the application of 2,483.2 pounds of nitrogen, 1,573.4 pounds of 
calcic hydric phosphate and 8,543.1 pounds of potassic sulphate, 
or their equivalent, together with nearly 25 tons of organic matter, 
producing the effects recorded in the preceding pages. 
§ 65. The most salient question suggested by a comparison of 
the composition of the manure applied and the results produced, is 
in regard to the phosphoric acid and potassic oxid, the former being 
materially increased in the ash of the beets, while the latter, on the 
contrary, is not effected, or is possibly decreased. The amount of 
potassic oxid applied is greatly in excess of the phosphoric acid, and 
the ratio of the potassic salts to the phosphates in the manure is 
