The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1907-03-15

causes disappointment at times when
large yields are expected, and the cost
of the manure is much greater, proper
tionately, when manure is inferior, for
the reason that the farmer must ex-
pend as much in labor for applying in
ferior manure as for that Of better
quality. Every farm should be we'll
equipped for converting everything into
manure that cannot be sold or utilized
on the farm, and the manure should be
preserved in a manner to prevent loss
and have the plant food in the most
available form at the time Of its ap-
plication.
Where experiments have been made
to compare exposed and unexposed ma
nures Gas has been done at some of the
experiment farms), 1t was demonstrated
that there was a greater loss OF nitro
gen and organic matter from exposed
manure than from that protected. The
former lost one-third of it's nitrogen
and the latter about one-f1fth. Ten per
cent more organic matter was Destroy
ed in the exposed than in the protected
manure. There is practically no loss
Of potash and phosphoric acid from
protected manure. Exposed manure that
is rotten may lose about one-sixth Of it's
phosphoric acid, and somewhat more
than one-third Of its potash. The chief
changes due to fermentation, take place
during the first month Of rotting, and
experiments show that there is 20 ap
parent benefit in rotting the manure
longer than for a period Of three
months. When gypsum was used, three
tons of horse and cow manure, mixed in
equal portions, were allowed TO ferment
without the addition of any preserva-
tive, by way Of comparison, with an
equal weight of the same kind Of ma
nure intimately mixed with ground
gypsum Gland plaster) at the rate Of
SO pounds of gypsum with every ton Of
manure. These lots were fermented at
the same time, in separate bins, inside
Of a building, the manure being fresh
and compacted as closely as possible
being undisturbed for four months, when
they were weighed and analysed. The
results at the Canadian experiment
farms show that gypsum retarded, to
certain extent, the destruction of animal
matter The amount of nitrogen in
each lot was the same, no useful results
from the application of gypsum being
observed. The proper place to use gyp-
sum Is in the stable, as 1t is in the
stable that a great loss of ammonia
occurs.
When manure is kept moist the loss
of potash cannot be prevented without
a water-tight, non-absorbent floor, but
when the manure heap is kept compact
and moist, there is no considerable loss
of ammonia. It is evident that If ma
nure is exposed to rains, no matter
what the absorbent materials may be,
the water cannot pass down without
carrying the soluble matter with 1t, and
when the water reaches the bottom, It
must either go down in the ground or
flow off in some other direction. What
ever substance has been dissolved out
of the manure, remains in the water
and passes off with 1t. The remaining
materials Of the heap may be almost
worthless, but they receive just as
much attention, and as much labor is
bestowed in hauling and spreading the
substances as though the loss of soluble
matter had not occurred. 1t has been
shown that when manure Is compacted
and the air kept out, the fermentation
Of the mass is not so rapid, but when
lossened and the air admitted, fermen-
tation begins, because the oxygen OF