Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-02-13
LIQUID MANURE.
Its Vast Importance and Value In til.
Cultivation OF a Farm.

Its vast Importance and Value In the
Cultivation OF a Farm.
The manure on the farm is usually
valued in proportion to the solid mat
ter contained therein, while the liquids
are given but little consideration by
some farmers. A comparison of the
value of the liquids with the solids will
easily demonstrate that the liquids con-
tain a larger amount of available matt
ter than the solids, and is also much
richer in nitrogen. 1t is estimated that
the amount of liquid manure produced
annually by single animals 200 pounds
for a pig, 1000 pounds for ahorse, 1000
pounds for a COW and 500 pounds for a
sheep. That from the pig contains
fourteen pounds of ammonia; that from
the horse contains thirty-seven pounds
Of ammonia; that from the COW nine
pounds, and that from the sheep eight
pounds. While the value of the liquids
from the pig-estimating for the nitro
gen, potash and a trace OF phosphoric
acids 81. the value of the solids is
but 81 cents, owing to the fact that
while the liquids contain less phosphoric
acid than the solids, they are SO very
rich in. nitrogen as to possess a COM
mercial value seven times greater than
that of the solids. If we compare the
liquids and solids from the horse the
result will be three times as much nitro
gen in the liquids as in the solids, but
the solids being much richer in
potash and phosphoric acid, nearly bal
ance the deficiency of those substances
in the liquids. Yet the value of the
solids is estimated at $40, and that of
the liquids at 1915. The COW pro-
duces, in value, $5 worth of solid ma
nure and So of liquid manure, the am
monia in both being nearly equal, but
the solids excelling in phosphoric acid
and potash. While the estimate OF the
amount of liquid M from the
sheep is placed at 500 pounds, the
amount of the solids is only fifty
pounds, and though the solids are rich
or in phosphoric acid, the liquids large
ly predominant in both potash and nj
troeen. The value Of the liquids is
$3.50 per annum, while that of the sol
ids is estimated at only fifty cents.
The estimates given are from caro-
fully conducted experiments, and,
though liable to a variation to a GER
tain extent, enable us to estimate the
true value Of the many millions of gal
Ions of liquid manure annually lost to
agriculture and the country by omis-
sion to save such waste and apply it
properly. On every farm there should
be suitable methods devised for collect
ing the liquids and conducting them to
a proper receptacle, where they may
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sorbents. Upon this matter we have
made suggestions before, but there is
another important consideration,
which is, that when crops are sup
piled with solid manure that
has been deprived of the liquid port on,
disappointment often results to the
crop, the plants lacking nutriment.
through growing on a highly-manured
soil. To demonstrate this, let us no.
tice the wheat plant. 1t has a strong
p%refence for nitrogen, and that ele-
ment, if deficient in the soil, must be
supplied, or the plant will not come to
full growth and maturity. While the
farmer may strictly do his duty to the
soil by the proiuse application of solid
manure, he will supply an excess of
potash, with probably insufficient nj
trogen, if such manure is produced by
the horse or COW, and if the manure
used be from the pig or sheep the
wheat plant will be benefited soslightly
as to produce an inferior crop. Should
the farmer, however, apply both the
liquid and solid portions of the manure
to the crop, the combination, being q
perfect plant food, will contain a full
proport on of all the principal sub
stances required-potash, nitrogen and
phosphoric acil-and any excess re-
naming over will be retained on heavy
soils, to some degree, for a succeeding
season. The liquids being more solu-
BILE, more valuable and more immedi-
ately available as plant food, should
receive the highest consideration on
the part OF all who cultivate tho SOIL
RAila6ellAia Record.