566 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Dec., 1899. 
The old definition of the term ‘‘manure” was a very comprehensive one, 
as it practically included every material the application of which to the soil 
would more or less increase its productiveness. 
This has, however, been considered too vague, and the term ‘‘manure”’ is now 
commonly understood to refer to farm manure, or, as it is commonly called, 
farmyard manure, stable manure, dung or muck which consists of the solid and 
liquid excrements of the yarious farm stock, mixed with more or less straw or 
other absorbent matter, or to any other refuse matter, mulch, compost heap, &C., 
obtainable on the farm. All other manures are classed as commercial fertilisers, 
as in the majority of cases they are not produced by the farmer, but have to be 
purchased by him. 
Farm Manure. 
As already stated, this manure is composed of the solid and liquid excre- 
ments of all kinds of farm stock, mixed with a greater or smaller proportion of 
absorbent matter. Such absorbent matter consists of straw, dried grass or 
weeds, ferns, cornstalks, &c., or often, in the case of animals kept in towns, of 
sawdust ashes, road scrapings, &e. It is a general or complete manure —that is 
to say, it contains all the essential elements of plant food in a more or legs 
available form, though not always in the most desirable proportions for all 
plants. Farm manure is greatly neglected in this colony, and, even where 
conserved, it is usually so badly handled that the greater portion of its manurial 
value is cither leached out or burnt out before it is applied to the land. 
The composition of farm manure varies considerably, and depends largely 
on the kind and condition of stock producing it, the food they are getting, and 
the care given to the manure when produced. 
Thus the excreta of young animals is always inferior to that of adults, as 
they extract more from their food. The excreta of cows and pregnant animals is 
also inferior in that they abstract more from their food to produce the milk or 
foetus respectively. The quality of the food always influences the value of the 
excreta; thus when stock are fed on foods rich in albuminous matter such ag 
cow peas, beans, cotton-seed, &¢., the excreta is rich in nitrogen. The excreta 
from well-fed animals is also superior to that of ill-fed animals or those in 
which the food ration is badly proportioned. The kind and amount of the 
absorbent material used also influence the value of the manure; so does the 
treatment that it receives before it is applied to the land. If thrown out in the 
open, and the sun, wind, and rain have free access to it, from one-half to two- 
thirds of its manurial value is rapidly extracted from it, but if kept covered and 
looked after the loss is only slight. It will thus be seen that it is an exceedingly 
difficult matter to determine the value of farm manure produced in this colony, 
especially as there is no analytical data to go on, and the values given by 
English, German, and American authorities are of little if any guide here, as the 
conditions under which the manure is produced are totally distinct. However, 
in tle case of well-fed cows, pigs, or horses the manure, if well cared for, should 
be worth at least 5s. to 6s. per ton according to the Sydney standard of 
manurial values, though the best American authorities consider that 10s. isa fair 
average for well-made mixed farm manure. Besides its purely manurial value, 
farm manure has several valuable properties, and it is to this that it owes its 
especial value in this colony. ‘ 
Farm manure contains a large proportion of organic matter which, when 
added to the soil, tends to improve its physical coudition, making it easier to 
work and more friable. It also tends to increase the power of the soil to absorb 
aud retain moisture —a most important consideration in a climate such as this, 
when dry spells are more or less frequent It also tends to free unavailable 
plant food present in the soil and to retain nitrogen. 
Most of our soils are deficient in organic matter and nitrogen; hence any- 
thing that will tend to improve them in this respect is of the greatest value to 
our cultivators, Before leaving the question of farm manure there is one other 
point to be considered, and that ig the utilisation of waste farm products and 
converting same into compost heaps with or without the addition of lime or 
