The news., 1882-02-09
FARM NOTES

BULK IN MANURE.-Qaantity is
I'll the farmer seems to desire iu
his manure heap. He does not stop
% consider the quality nor value, but
judges it by the number of cubic feet
u occupies. And there is as much
variation in the composition of the
manure in the farm heaps as there is
In the different grades Of animals on
The farm. Take ton of well-rotted
manure, as it is usually found on
every farm and it will consist Of about
$50 pounds OF of organic matter and
about 60 pounds Of mineral matter.
This in round numbers, 900 pounds
Of dry matter. The remsioiag 1400
pounds is water. And to still further
reduce the actual value, as far as the
smallest amount will demonstrate,
there is much valueless matter in
the dry 600 pounds, for of that
amount only IL pounds are potash,
8 pounds phosphoric acid and 13
pounds Of nitrogen, giving total of
only 33 pounds. This shows badly
sgainst the farmers prospects and
hopes from his ton of well-rotted ma
nure; but nevertheless this conclusion
has been arrived at only after careful
experiments and tests.
And to still further detract from
the value Of the heap, it is to be OBJ
served that the above applies only to
good manure-that has been we'll
eomposted, protected and managed.
In manure heaps that have been ex-
posed to the heat of the sun and
drenching rains the amount of min
sral matter is still less. These twelve
pounds Of actual potash are valued at
u, the phosphoric acid at 80 cents
and the nitrogen at about $2.25-
total value Of the ton of barnyard
manure, $4.05. These prices of
course, fuctuate, and may be at times
higher or lower. The actual potash
is derived, iu commercial salts, from
the sulphate and muriate, the acids
In the salts merely adding to the bulk
but, being combined with the potash,
must be used with il. So with the
phosphoric acid and nitrogen.
There Is in manure heaps, however
small proportions Of matter that are
not sold among commercial fertilizers
such a. magnesis, iron, common salt
and carbon. The latter is in manure
heaps in good quantity, but is not con-
sidsred valuable. Chlorine is bought
In the muriate Of potash, and even in
lime We fnd magnesis. The iron is not
desired. But these articles are not
sold ~ such in the usual commercial
fertilizers, and farmers do not expect
to 6ud them there.
Then there are many compounds
formed by the vegetable acids in the
manure heap entirely unknown. A
constant movement Of the particles 10
10 progress therein, and new COM
pounds are formed daily. Still If the
proper Ingredients are not added to
the heap for the manufacture of first
class manure no chemical process can
create IL. The true value and efici-
ENJOY Of the manure are derived from
that which the farmer adds to II. 1t
Is mistake to suppose that "any-
thing" will make good manure. Any
thing will increase the bulk and
assist in retaining the nutrltive quail
itios, but after bulk has been acquired
We must expended labor to haul Il to
the fields.
The preservation of manure is one
Of the most important matters
for the faru sr's attention. It
is usually the method with him to
haul everything to the barnyard to be
trampled by cattle, aud there remain
until 1t is ready 70 be heaped. After
being hsaped he thinks he has done
his duty until ready to haul 1t out.
During this interval few drsnchiDg
rains will deprive 1t of all that is
valuable, and the scorching rays Of
the sun will assist In this deterior
atisg process. All manure then
should be kept under sheltsr---not
very tight, close roof, but in such
manner Is to protect it against being
drsnched. A few leaks here and
there that will admit some water are
bsaifeial, care being required to
prevent 10 from teaching only. As
70 exposure to the sun, that should
never be done under any circumstan-
ees.
The black dissgrssable stuff that
flows away in the drains after heavy
rains carries Of the wealth of the
farmer with II 1eev;no Aba d.oss Co..