Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-02-09

or print, c0nQenSeQ summary was puO-
lished in this series of letters q year or
so ago. As the inquiry how to best handle
ben droppings is still frequently receiv-
ed, the results of the experiments and
condensed directions for handling hen
manure are again briefly stated.
The dung of fowls contains, in addi-
ton to the undigested residue from the
food, the excrement from the kidneys,
and is, therefore, much more nitrogen
Gus than that of other domestic animals.
Most of the nitrogen is in the form OF
uric acid and is very readily available to
growing plants. 1t is, however, very
quickly changed by putrefac ion into
carbonate of ammonia. As ordinarily
stored, much of the heterogeneous matters
of hen manure go off into the air as am
monia gas and are lost. For the por-
pose of the experiment, the droppiugs
from roost closets from $50 mature lay
ing hens were collected each morning
for three days. period. Each lot OF
droppings, equivalent to the droppings
from $40 hens for one night weighed
about 45 pounds. Eight different lots
were treated as follows: One lot was
mixed with 27 pounds of kainit, another
with 40 pounds of plaster, another with
"a pounds of acid phosphate, ano;her
with 15 pounds Of kiln-dried sawdust,
and each of three others with 10 pounds
of sawdust to which were added in one
case "a pounds of kainit, in another 81
pounds of plaster, aud in another Al
pounds of acid phosphate. These lots
were put in barrels and stored in room
in one of the barns from May 10 Novem-
Der. They were weighed and sampled
10 November. The three nights drop
pings carried originally about 1.25
pounds of nitrogen. From the dung
stored oy itself or with sawdust, more
than half of this escaped during the
summer. The lot stored with 40 pounds
of plaster lost about one-third, while the
lot stored with So pounds of plaster and
sawdust suffered no loss. The lots wit
kauit and acid phosphate, both with
and without sawdust, retained practical
ly all of the nitrogen. Both because of
the danger of loss, and it's tendency to
form into hard Jumps, plaster is less de-
sirable than either of the chemicals
tried. The addition Of sawdust mate
rally improvedlthe mechanical condition
of the lots.
The droppings during the day time
upon the floor are difficult to save from
waste. When the floors are covered
with straw or other dry absorbents,
there is likely to be considerable me-
chanical loss in the form of dust and
otherwise. The readily decomposable
urates will probably break up even fast.
or than in the case Of dung stored with
out chemicals, so that very consider
able part of the nitrogen of the day dung
is probably lost for agricultural pur.
poses.
According to the last report OF the.
state assessors, there are about two mil
lion hens, ducks and geese in Maine.
The total droppings from these would
ag regate seventy five thousand tons, #
which about thirty thousand tons will
fall upon the roOsting boards and can be
readily collected and properly cared for.
By Itself or with the additions of or
binary non-fertilizing absorbents, such
as plaster or sawdust or loan, hen dung
is one sided heterogeneous fertilizer. As
usually managed, one-half or more of its
uIlTURtH lS lUoI, bO buok oo
used it does not carry 80 great an excess
of nitrogen. Because of its high nitro
gen content, IL properly stored it is more
economically used in connection with
msnures carrying phosphoric acid and
potash. As both acid phosphate and
kainit prevent the loss of nitrogen, 1t is
possible to use them in connection with
sawdust, or some other dry material as
an absorbent, so as to make we'll bal.
auced fertilizer.
The night droppings from one hun
dred hens will weigh about eight pounds
If this is mixed with three pounds OF dry
sawdust, dry peat, dry loan, or other
dry absor bent, four pounds of acid phos-
phste and two pounds OF kainit, and
kept in dry place, there will be no loss
of fertilizing ingredients and will be 10
good mechanical condition for use.
Such a mixture would carry about 1.25
percent nitrogen, percent pbosphoric
acid, and percent potash. When used
at the rate of two tons per acre, would
furnish so pounds of nitrogen, $50
pounds of phosphoric acid and 80 pounds
of potash, or sufficient to grow liberal
field crop. Because of their mechanical
condition, the goods cannot be we'll used
with machinery, and therefore, are bet
ter adapted to garden purposes than for
fields.
The absorbent and the chemicals
should be kept conveniently at hand.
The treated droppings should be well
sheltered until it is time to apply them
TO the land. The station built water
tight cement building with wooden root
for this purpose. In the end, this is
cheaper than any other form of structure.
Any small wooden building or bin in a
larger building can be used. The essen
tial things are, The immediate mixing
of the absorbents and chemicals with the
manure, and keeping the mixture dry
until it is used on the land.-Chas. d.
Woods, Director Maine Experiment Sta
ton.