Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-11-23
FARM AND HOSEHOLD.
HEN MANURE.

The fertilizing value of hen ma
nure varies greatly, according to
the condition in which it is kept,
and the amount of sand, moisture
and litter that go along with it,
1t must be confessed that the ma
jority OF poultry houses are very
worthless affairs, leaky, filthy, and
uncomfortable in the extreme, even
for poultry. OF course there Is no
such thing as keeping the manure
dry in such places. Nor is there
much pains taken to keep it dry,
or much account taken Of it 10 any
way, by most farmers. Perhaps
once year the dropping OF the
poultry houses are cleared out,
together with a good deal of dirt
and such litter as has accumulated
through the year,-and OF course It's
efficiency as a quick and powerful
fertilizer is impaired to the extent
of this adulteratiOn. IL is really
surprising that such a valuable
fertilizer is so abused and neglected
by farmers generally.
Now the proper way TO manage
hen manure Is, to keep it dry from
the start. To do this, you must
have a dry root over head, and the
floor of the hen house, if OF earth,
should be of clay packed hard and
firm, so as to remain dry through
out all seasons. The droppings OF
the fowls must be preserved dry,
for the greater the amount Of moist
ure the manure contains, the less
will be the quantity of nitrogen
present. If the soil is low and
naturally damp, 1t is far better to
lay down plain plank floor, to
keep the manure of the ground
In other situations hard clay floor
will be dry enough.
While moist hen manure does
not contain as much as one per
cent. OF nitrogen and but very
little potash or phosphorie acid,
(the three elements most important
in fertilizer,) the dry manure of
poultry contains, as has been re-
peatedly shown by chemists, from
three to four per cent. OF nitrogen.
and from two three per cent. each
OF potash and acid. In this con
dition it becomes valuable ferti-
lizer, the equal in point of fact to
any Of the commercial fertilizers OF
the day. 1t Is about the same as
imported Peruvian guano.
OF course we do not here forget
the fact that poultry manure, as 1t
comes from the fowl, contains a
good deal more moisture than
Peruvian guano, and that the food
Of poultry is generally much less
rich IN nitrogen, &c, than that Of
the sea.fowls of the Peruvian
islands, which is for the most part
fish. But poultry manure voided
on a dry floor, will evaporate Its
moisture without serious loss of
nitrogen, and the dried article will
be richer in nitrogen than the fresh
manure, pound for pound.
Herein, then, we see the i'm
portance Of having the poultry
manure thoroughly dry. Aud, if
the farmer will take the pains, not
cnly to keep this manure always
dry, but TO mix with it, as fast as
il accumulates, dry land plaster,
he will thus not only prevent all
escape of ammonia from 1t, but
may, by working It over with a
hoe and getting it all thoroughly
mixed, make the whole mass so
dry, clean and fine, as to become
like other concentrated fertilizers
and in a condition to be easily
sOwed by hand or by machine.
BY making it one-half to two.
thirds plaster, a strong aud valu-
able fertilizer is compounded, that
will go as far and do as much good
on any crop, as an equal amount of
an yfertilizer in the market. We
say this without tear of successful
contradiction, having tried it re-
peatedly aud somewhat extensive
~. Take care OF the hen manure,
keep it dry, and mix it with land
plaster.-IRder-A Appeal.