Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-08
Dailp Kertneber journal.
Composition of Manure.


The value of manure depends not only
upon the character of the feed allowed, but
also upon the condition of the animal, the
breed and the age. The principal sub
stances of value in manure are nitrogen.
phosphoric acid and potash, the former
substance being the most costly. In the
artificial fertilizers. nitrogen exists in the
shape of sulphate of ammonia. nitrate oil
soda. or as Peruvian guano, while ground
dried blood, leather or other substances
containing it are sometimes used. Potash
is usually supplied in the form of the sui
phate (kainit) or muriate, its quality de-
pending upon the grade of the salt used
for the purpose. while the phosphoric acid
Casually combined with lime) is derived
from bones and sometimes from guano
deposits and marine formations. The
Carolina phosphate beds have been largely
instrumental in cheapening this article.
while that from bones is usually associated
with proportions of nitrogen.
Barnyard manure and artificial fertiliz-
ers differ only in form. The active in
gradients of barnyard manure are the
the manure contains small proportions of
u6XutSid, SOuh, dilu u lSW OthCi SupStnuS-
es not always present in fertilizers. though
easily added to them if necessary. Manure
contains, however, large quantity OF
carbon, which is considered by some n
valuable fertilizer, but others contend that
as plants appropriate carbon from the at
mosphere through the agency of the leaves.
such matter only adds to the bulk of the
manure without improving the quality
When food is fed to animals it undergoes
a chemical process in the body, which ex-
tracts the nutritive portions for sustenance,
according to the digestive capacity of the
animal, the residuum being voided as be-
ing no longer useful in that respect.
The amount of available fertiliZing ma
terial in the manure thus voided, depends
upon the character of the food, and its
relative proportions of nitrogen, which is
always costly. As growing animals re-
quire not only food tor warmth, but for
growth also, the manure from such is less
in value than from animals that are ma
tured. And as more food is required to
assist the body against cold weather than
for any other purpose, the warmth of the
quarters is a factor in the matter also, es-
pecially if it be correct that carbon is ben
eficial as manure TO the roots of plants.
Assuming that animals are we'll fed on
average quality of food, then, for every
1000 pounds OF manure from horses, more
than 700 pounds consists of water, while
the remainder is estimated at about
twelve pounds OF phosphoric acid
twenty-eight pounds of potash and five
pounds of ammonia. The manure from
the COW contains nearly $50 pounds OF
water in every 1000, the amount of phos-
phoric acid in the remainder being about
five pounds, potash ten pounds and nitro
gen three pounds, the manure from the
horse being double the value of that from
the COW in all the substances except nitro
gen, and even in nitrogen it is nearly
twice as rich. OF the different kinds ol
manure, that from fowls and the human
species is the richest in nitrogen. but this
includes the urine. the solid portions be-
ing vefr deficient in that respect. Manure
from the sheep is the richest in am
monia. (nitrogen,) with proportions OF
potash and small quantities of phos-
phoric acid. Considering this fact,
too much Importance cannot be Civ
en- the saving OF liquids. that from the hu-
man species being Waived at half cent
per pound The value of the solid pOr-
tions of manure from horse for one year
is said to be about $40. while the value of
the liquids from the same source for the
same period is nearly the same.
Considering the high value of the
liquids, which are alwas Immediately
available as plant food when applied to
the soil, the manure must be protected
from drenchng rains and melting SHOWS,
for as part of the inert matter OF the ma
nure is changed by chemical action in the
heap during the process of decomposition
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