Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-03-29
ID las
PRIZE ESSAY ON MANURE.
SECTION EIGHTH.
Mdnures Consisting of Sails.

Mdnures Consisting of Sails.
In using the term salts here to designate
a class of manures, | wish to distinguish be-
tween these and mineral manurcs, as they
are usually termed. These nanures are
similar in kind to the salts whose action in
COW dung we have already considered. They
are truly mineral salts, derived from the
mineral kingdom, entering INTO and forming
part of plants, and from this source intro.
duced into the dung of animals. Their ac-
ton, whatever be their name, has been ex-
planned. But the salts composing the sec
ond class Of manure now under consideration,
are not of mineral origin. They are derI-
we'd from the animal kingdom. The source
from which they are formed is the living p, o.
cess of the animal body. They are animal
salts. Here, then, let US divide the second
class Of manures into animal salts, which are
truly manures, both their base and their acid
acting as nourishers of plants-and into min
cral salts. Here, again, reader, you will find
that the few facts which we have pointed out
relating to the food and nourishment of ami
mails, will help Us on our way in tracing the
source Of these animal salts.
1t has been already said, that the food of
animals is divided into two classes-that
winch does and that winch does not contain
nitrogen. All domestic animals eat these
classes together. In "A few words, let us
trace their course after the animal digested
them. The one class goes TO form fat, or to
support the natural heat of the body, and
passes off by the skin in sweat, or in mois-
lure of the breath, and all its excess, or un-
digested part, goes off IN dung. The excess
of heterogeneous food, all that is not required
for repairing the daily waste of the body, or
to increase its growth, also passes of in dung,
as excrement. This is small portion, and
its effects on the strength of dung have been
pointed out. But the wear and tear, as we
may call it, of the flesh and blood, the parts
which are daily and constantly thrown out OF
the body as excretions, or old materials, en-
ter the circulation, and pass out of the body
in urine. This is the point to which would
call your attention. The undigesied food
and the extremenls not containing nitrogen,
90 off in dung. The food and the spent
parts OF the body containing nitrogen, 90 Of
, in urine. This last, too, is the course OF
most alkaline salts taken into the body
They pass off in urine. Here, then, we
! come to the subject, quite prepared to under.
: stand it. The urine is a collection of salts
$ some are Of mineral, others of animal origin
, But that which gives the urine its peculiar
? and characteristic properties, is a substance
I formed from the n,rogenOus food, and term
g ed UREA. Now you need hardly trouble
S yourself to remember this new name all
y want YOU to understand about il is, that whel
n urine is exposed to air, it rots and this pc
u culiar substance is changed to ammonia
n That is the point to be remembered. Ii
e considering inc, therefore, as ii manure,
= will not he necessary to point out further tn
mode of its action, than to refer that of eve
!, ry animal to its salts and power of tornin
y ammonia. The quantity of the last will b
e in proportion to the quantity of urea. Their
II are other salts of ammonia in urine, and al
: so mineral salts. These effect but little tn
h value of urine as a manure. 1t is the area
\ essence of urine, that Substance which form
= ammonia IN rot,ing urine, that snbstanc
n which forms ammonia in rolting urine, whic
l. alone makes this liquid more valuable tina
d dung. Hence, reader, if this is impresse
d on your mind, you will perceive, that til
chicf.st things to be regarded in urine, al
first, the circumstances which affect the qua
10 itv and quantity. Second, the best mode
T.. promoting change of urine to ammonia
st Third, the time required for the process
~ and fourth, the best mode of preserving til
Ia ammonia, when formed. You will perceive
~ reader, that all along have cndeavorcd t
N point out the principles on which manur,
y. act. If you go by general principles, the
~ for a plain practical farmer, like yourself
~ with only chemistry enough to understand
{. few of its terms, it must be quite thankle,
service to point out TO you in detail all tt
~ various things contained in URINE. All go
in want TO know is lhis-does urine contain,
p, solid dung does, water, mould, and sails?
~ II does. The mould is so small part.
- may be left out of view. The salts are liz
a those in the solid dung-mneral salls-an
n then we have the peculiar principle are.
Y. which for all practical purposes may be ca
i. led ammonia. We may, then, will, this
" vision, present in table the composition
=. the urine OF various animals at one glance
!. Wafer Salts. Ammon