Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-02-01

building of the Panama Canal.
The following table will aid the farm
or in valuing the manure production of
bis farm and also give him some idea of
the value per ton:
Animal Value of manure Annual
per ton value
sheen s3.40 ESQ
Horse ESQ 200
Cs,tIs 10 eO0O
swine 2l5 400
Liquid manure, pound for pound, is
more valuable than solid, except in the
case OF swine, and is valued at S7.0O per
ton. The table values include liquid ex-
creta.
In purchasing or selling, it should be
remembered that not all manures can be
valued in accordance with the table
values. There are many factors that de-
termine the value of manure. Further
more, evea though the manure when
fresh may have been worth more than
the table indicates, it may have been
subject to the "silent escape" To esti-
mate the value, one should take into
consideration, / age and kind OF anil
mals;2 activity of the animals; 3 kind
of ration; and kind and amount OF
absorbeuts used. II the manure is not
fresh, its value depends upon the degree
of weathering, which means the degree
of fermentation and teaching.
AS to the comparative quality of ma
uure excreted from young and mature
animals, il is only to be expected that
that excreted from the older animals Is
the more valuable, providing that both
classes are fed the same kind and amount
of ration per 1000 lbs. of live weight and
each has been subject to similar condi-
tions and activity. The reason is appar-
sut. The bodies of the young animals
are in a state of growth and make a
greater demand upon the nitrogen and
phosphorus Of their ration in building
Manure varies slightly with the degree
of activity. Work demands more nitro
gen and dry matter from the food.
The kind of ration is possibly the
strongest factor in determining the
value Of manure. Any one would pre-
fer to purchase manure from animals
fed a ration of clover hay, alfalfa, bran,
oil meal, or cottonseed meal instead of
from animals fed solely upon coarse
strsws and feeds low in the valuable ele-
ments. There are dairy farms produc-
ing manure having value much IN ex-
cess of that shown in the table, which is
only an average. The writer has seen
cattle wintered on rye straw and marsh
hay. The manure from such animals is
of low value.
The kind and amount of litter used for
bedding the animals can not be over
locke in valuing manure; especially is
this important in reference to horse ma
nure. An excess of straw means poor
quality of manure. An excess of shaw
ings would be very Objectionable.
Enough litter to nicely absorb the liquid
excreted is desirable and sufficient. II
floor sweeteners have been added to hold
the nitrogen the manure would be more
valuable. '&
FERMENTATION
Fermentation of farm manure is an
unfamiliar subject to most farmers
No doubt every farmer has felt bis
eyes smart when standing over horse
manure on q hot day. Fermentation
was taking place and ammonia was es-
Gaping, carrying away valuable nitrogen.
There is no loss of potash or phosphorus
in this process, so there Is no need OF
worry about them. The loss OF nitrogen
runs as high as IS percent or better, and
nitrogen In commercial form is worth
about zoe pound.
There are methods of checking the
loss. Put the manure on the soil as soon
as possible or keep it in cool, compact,
wet pile. Loose manure admits ar,
consequently fermentation takes place
There is a slight breaking down OF nj
trogsn even though the pile 10 cool, com
pact, and wet, but the nitrogen cannot
so readily escape In this case. There Is
always some loss but 1t Is better TO nave
minimum.
LEACHING
Fermentation releases nitrogen, re-
gardless of how strongly 1t Is held, and
teaching carries away the best part OF
the nitrogen as it is in an available form;
There is an additional loss OF potash ana
phosphorus. Does it sound reasonable
10 saw that a 24-hour rain on a good SIZE
manure pile will carry of S25 worth OF
LIQUID manure? 1t is very possible, and
many times q fact. it Is . common
sight to see the deep brown nitrogen,
potash, and phosphorus laden liquid
from the manure pile passing on witn
the food. The loss can be prevented.
Have plenty of litter to absorb the liquid
excreted and some rainfall besides, OF
hurry the munure to the field. A con.
crete manure pit with cheap cover win
check both teaching and fermentatlon,
and pay for itself over and over. For'
sign countries long ago learned to con
serve the manure; but we in Americs
have been rather slow at learning the
lesson. We do fairly well at providing
cover for our grain and hay, buta $500
manure pile is left at the mercy OF the
weather. II it is possible TO get on tc
the fields without damage or extreme ef
fort, manure should be spread the year
round. There is little or no objection
to spreading manure on the side hills u
winter even II you do not own the land
at the bottom. -
Some claim injnry from spreading
fresh manure and prefer to let the ms
nure stand for a year or two to roe y
bad better rot in tAe ground than rot Y
q pile and lose so percent sot tts value
| It is true, some crops respond to fresf
manure better than others, bot the 70 TO
sponse Of any crop will be greater wiz
fresh manure than with manure weather
ed 10 death. .s.9
A common but decreasing objection
able practice h 10 put manure In piles o.
the field to stand for ssome time. In
result 10 An uneven stand Of hay or gran
for several years. :
rHr xANusf srREADER
One of the best, most paying and iaoo
saving machines that ever came on IN
farm is . manure spreader. The poores
spresder 10 better than the old pitchforl
method. A light, frequent application
II -h.vahv all fha fielda ar