Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-03-17
Bulk in the Manure Heap.

Quantity is all the farmer seems to
desire in his manure heap. He does
not stop to consider the quality nor
value, but judges it by the number of
cubic feet it occupies. And yet there
is rs much variation in the composition
of the manure in the farm heaps as
there is in the different grades of ami
mails on n farm. Take ton of we'll
rotted manure; as it is usually found on
every farm, and it will consist of about
$50 pounds OF organic matter and about
sixty pounds of mineral matter. This
is, in round numbers, 600 pounds of dry
matter. The remaining 1,400 pounds
is water. And to still further reduce
the actual value, as far rs the smallest
amount will demonstrate, there is much
valueless matter in the dry GOO pounds,
for of that amount only twelve pounds
are potash eight pounds phosphoric
acid and thirteen pounds nitrogen, Civ
ing total of only thirty-three pounds.
This shows badly against the farmers
prospects and hopes from his ton of
well-rotted barn-yard manure; but new
erthelcss this conclusion has been ar
rived at only after careful experiments.
And to still further detract from the
value of the heap, il is to be observed
that the above applies only to good
manure-that has been well composted,
protected and managed. In manure
heaps that have been exposed to the
heat of the sun and drenching rains the
amount is still less. These twelve
pounds of actual potash are valued at
81, the phosphorus acid at eighty cents
and the nitrogen at S3.25-total value
of the ton of barnyard manure, S505.
|. These prices, of course, tluctuate, and
may be ut times higher or lower. The
actual potash is derived, in commercial
salts from the sulphate and muriate, the
acids in the salts merely adding to the
bulk, but, being combined with the pot
ash, must be used with it. So with the
phosphoric acid and nitrogen.
There is in the manure heap, howey-
er, small proportions of matter that are
not sold among commercial fertilizers
such as magnesia, iron, common salt
and carbon. The latter is in the ma
nurc heap in good quantity, but is not
considered valuable, Chlorine is bought
in the muriate of potash, and even in
lime we find magnesia. The iron is
not desired. But these articles are not
sold rs such in the usual commercial
fertilizers and farmers do not expect to
find them there.
Then there are many compounds
formed by the vegetable acids in the
manure heap entirely unknown. A
constant movement of the particles is in
progress therein, and new compounds
are formed daily. Still, if the proper
ingredients are not added to the heap
for the manufacture OF frst-class ma
nure, no chemical process can create it..
The true value and efficiency of the ma
nure are derived from that which the
farmer adds to it. 1t is mistake to
suppose that anything will make good
manure. Anything will increase the
bulk and assist in retaining the nutritive
qualities, but after bulk has been ac-
quired we must expend labor to haul ii
TO the fields. ...I
The preservation of manure is one OF
the most important matters for the
| farmers attention. 1t is usually the
method with him TO haul everything to
| the barn-yard to be trsimpled by cattle,
and there remain until it is ready to be
heaped. After being heaped he thinks
he has done his duty until ready to hau
| it out. During this interval few
drcnching rains will deprive it of all
that is valuable, and the scorching rays
of the sun will assist in this dcteriorat-
ing process. All manure, then, should
be kept under shelter-not very tight
close roof, but in such manner as to pre-
tect it against being drcnched. A few
leaks here and there that will admit
some water are beneficial, care being re
quired to guard against teaching only
As to exposure to the sun, that shoult
never be done under any circum
stances.
The black, disagreeable stuff tina
flows away in. the drains after heav,
rains carries off the wealth of the farm
with it, leaving the dross for him to hau
to the fields. But as the bulk still re
mains the farmer contents himself witt
the reflection that he has added 3
many loads of manure to his fields, an,
when harvest arrives he is ready to de
clare that farming does not pay. Ill
has but to guard against loss in his man
agement, and hall the battle is won
Protect the manure heap, for it is you
bank that contains the wealth of tn
farm.--Iadiana STATE Sentinel