Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-08-04
Cash Value of Manure.

| A bulletin recently issued by the de-
partment of agriculture emphasizes the
value of manure and it's economical en-
plOyment upon the farm. 1t says eX-
periments show that the fertilizing value
of the manure of our domestic animals
for one year is as follows: for the horse
S2T, for the COW $40, for the hog S2I and
for the sheep S2. Computing the total
value of the fertilizing ingredients ac-
cording to the number of animals
reported in the live stock census of 1900,
we have for the enormous aggregate, in
round numbers, S2,174, 100000, not an
insignificant figure by any means. The
result, although approximate, is correct
| in representing the commercial value OF
the fertilizing elements, nitrogen, phos-
phoric acid and potash, as found in the
animal excreta.
OF course it is impossible for the far M
er in general to go to the expense and
trouble of shedding his barnyard to
guard against extremes of drought or
moisture, exposure and heat, or for the
erection of leau-to in connection with
his stable and the consequent attention
| involved, but it is possible and highly
practicable for every farmer to attach
such importance to this valuable farm
product flor such it is), as to utilize 1t IN
the most practicable manner possible in
sustaining the fertility of his farm and
| in increasing the mechanical and physi-
| cal conditions of the soil.
Some of the most important points In
the summary are given below:
|. Barnyard manure represents fer
tility drawn from the soil, which must
be returned if productiveness is to be
maintained.
2 The value of manure obtained IN
cattle feeding often represents largely
the profits of feeding.
3. Manure contains the fertilizing ele-
| ments of the soil, renders the already
present elements more available, I'M
proves mechanical condition, makes 1t
warmer and enables it to retain more
moisture or draw it up from below.
4. The urine is the most valuable
part of the excreta, containing much
nitrogen and potash in easy available
forms. The nitrogen easily escapes into
the air unless the manure is mixed WIN
the solid excrement or straw.
). Poultry manure ranks highest in
fertilizing value, while sheep, pig, horse
and COW manure follows in respective
order.
| g. Ina given class of animals the
value of their manure is determined
more largely by their food than by any
other factor. :.
| I. Deterioration of manure results
from fermentation or by teaching OF
weathering.
s. When possible it is generally best
to apply manure in the fresh conditon,
erpecially for improvement of the me-
chahical condition of heavy soils. Well
rotted manure is best for improving con-
dition of light sandy soils.
8. Fresh manure has forcing effect,
and it is therefore better suited to the
growth of grass and forage plants than
to cereals.
10. Direct application of fresh ma
nure to root crops often proves inJu II
Gus. ~
| IL. Manures should be spread on the
LAND uniformly and not left in heaps
And it might be added that evenness o.
application is best obtained by use Oh
the manure spreader. Unless the ma
nure is applied evenly, the soil is only
fertilized in spots and the best results
cannot be expected.
II. Mixing of manures often con
duces to rapid fermentation and the con
sequent loss of nitrogen by evaporation