Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-03-15

ammonia, that you have forgotten that its
source and origin are due TO this Nitrogen.
Now the source Of this nitrogen is in the food,
and as, during fatiening, grain, is supplied
for its starch, &C., to make fat, and very
little waste of the body taking place, the
extra nitrogen of the blood forming nateri-
ais of grain, is nearly all voided in dung.
9th. The mode OF employment Your
working beasts suffer grea, wear and tear Of
flesh and blood bone and muscle, thews
and sinews. Hence their daily food sup
plies only this daily waste, the food is very
thoroughly exhausted, and of course the
dung is weak. 1t derives its chief value
| from the excretions of those parts Of the
body which are voded as waste materials,
among the excrements. There is a distmc-
ton to be noted here cxcrctions are tho
worn out flesh and blood elemenrs-excre-
ments, the undgested and unused food: dung
includes both excretions and excrt ments.
Now the chief value Of the dung of work.
ing cattle depends upon the excreilons.
Oil. The nature of the beast. II his
coat is wool, he requires more sulphur and
phosphorus, the natural yolk or sweat OF his
wool, more lime and ammonia, than does
the hairy coated animal. Hence sheep pro-
duce manure less rich in manyof the elements
Of plants, than cattle; but as at the Same
time il contains larger portion Of nitrogen,
and is very finely chewed, it runs quicker in
to fermentation. 1t is better manure, quick
to eat, quick TO work, and is soon done.
7th. The kind Of food. We have already
spoked of this as affecting the quantity OF
dung Its effects are no less marked on its
quality. Now all that requires 10 be said on
this subject, is to remind you, reader, OF the
two divisions of food, the fat formers, and the
flesh and blood formers. Ii must be evident
that the more of this last the food contains,
that is, the more heterogeneous is the food, the
richer the dung. Hence, grains of all SORTS,
peas, beans, &C., will always give richer
dung than fruits, as apples, Sc. The moro
heterogeneous the hay, the richer the dung.
Meadow ca,s.tail and rye grass are nearly
six times stronger in ammonia than oat straw.
Red clover is twice as rich in nitrogen as
heards- grass; wheat, barley, and rye straw,
green carrots and potatoes contain only about
one third to one- fifth the ammonia of herds
grass, and turnips only about one-sIXth.
The quantity Of ammonia contained in these
different grasses and straws, shows at once
the effect they must have in the compost
heap. The Kind OF inter must nave no small
eflt.cl upon the value of manure. And while
we are upon this subject, it may not be out Of
place to mention, that the Kind of green
crop turned in, materially affects the value Of
the process. While the straws Of the grain
bearing plants afford for every ton Of green
crop turned in, about ihree-quarlrrs Of
pound of ammonia, green corn stalks and
herds-gra about five pounds of ammonia
per ton red clover affords about seventeen
pounds of ammudia per ton. The very great
value Of clover in enrchng land is thus made
evident. But to return to the quality of the
dung, as affected by the food, it has been
proved, that animals fattenng on oil cake,
give manure in value double that Of common
stock. Here abundance of nitrogen is sup
4 piled where but very little is required, and
consequently much is voded IN dung
The point 10 which we have arrived is a
breathing place the remarks which have
been offered upon the action Of salts, have
prepared the way for onr entering upon the
! next seclion-the second class of manures.
} ITO he connued)