TALKS ON MANURES A SERIES OF FAMILIAR AND PRACTICAL TALKS BETWEEN THE AUTHOR AND THE DEACON, THE DOCTOR, AND OTHER NEIGHBORS, ON THE WHOLE SUBJECT
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o the American Farmer.-- The growth of Wheat Year after Year on the same Land, unmanured, with Farm-yard Manure, and with various Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers.
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immediately active and available. It is unquestionably true, that the same amount of nitrogen in barn-yard manure, will not produce so great an effect as its theoretical value would in
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for twenty-seven years, there has been a great loss of nitrogen. The same remarks apply to this case. No one ever advocates summer-fallowing land every other year, and sowing nothing
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d grass, root, stem, and branch, all are composed or made up of these same dozen elements. If I ask you what bread is made of, you say it is composed of the dozen elements aforesaid. I
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refreshes the plants, and fills the leaves with sap, precisely in the same way. All these fertilizing effects, however, belong to climate. It is inaccurate to associate either mulching
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and on the other. This will give you some good, rich muck, and at the same time drain your swamp. Then cut some _under-drains_ from _y_ towards the higher land at _w_, _v_, and _h_, an
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om the soil. In this way the “condition” of the soil would remain the same. If we sell _less_ than we develop, the condition of the soil will improve. By “condition,” I mean the amoun
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ed at the breweries with the “grains,” and are sold to milkmen at the same price--from 12 to 15 cents per bushel. Where their value is not known, they can, doubtless, be sometimes obta
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enting in an exposed heap for six months, it still contains about the same _percentage_ of water. When kept in the heap until August, the percentage of water is much greater. Of four t
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gen, and 30¾ lbs. of soluble mineral matter. If they buy a ton of the same manure that has been kept under cover until February, they get, nitrogen, 15 lbs.; soluble minerals, 42½ lbs.
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, and the manure becomes rapidly deteriorated in value, whilst at the same time it is diminished in weight. “21. Well-rotten dung is more readily affected by the deteriorating influen
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garden, more than two loads of the straw and corn manure. To get the same amount of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, you have to spend more than twice the labor in cleaning out
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imes, when comparatively dry, we use the refuse sheep bedding for the same purpose. Where the sheep barn is contiguous to the pig-pens, and when the sheep bedding can be thrown at once
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iately available. It makes it more soluble. We ferment manure for the same reason that we decompose bone-dust or mineral phosphates with sulphuric acid, and convert them into superphos
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nd in the manure.” How to keep cows tied up in the barn, and at the same time save all the urine, is one of the most difficult problems I have to deal with in the management of manur
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nd supporting 20 cows, would give us a gross return of $1,204.50. The same farm so improved as to produce 2¼ tons of hay or its equivalent, per acre--fed to 20 cows _capable of eating,
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this, his land has been growing richer and richer. And, in fact, the same is true of Mr. Geddes’ farm. It is richer land to-day than when first plowed, while there is one field that f
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80.4 ” ” ” ” Fresh solid cow-dung contains, according to the same authority, 90 per cent of water. I have frequently seen manure drawn out in the spring, that had not been de
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arch, April, May, and June, than wheat; and, consequently, to get the same amount of food, it is not necessary that the clover should have as much nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, et
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es of wheat, and as much potash as the produce from five acres of the same crop. Clover thus unquestionably removes from the land very much more mineral matter than does wheat; wheat,
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s, containing 61 lbs. of nitrogen; that is, there was very nearly the same quantity of roots and nitrogen in them, as that furnished in the soil from the brow of the hill. “The roots,
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f nitrogen per acre, that is, considerably more than was found in the same section of the soil where the clover was mown twice for hay; showing plainly, that during the ripening of the
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cre, and contained 100 lbs. of nitrogen. A few yards distance, on the same soil, where the clover was bad, the acre of roots contained only 31 lbs. of nitrogen per acre. So far, so go
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ments at Rothamsted on the Growth of Wheat, Year After Year, on the Same Land. Table 1.--Manures And Produce; 1st Season, 1843-4. Manures and Seed (Old Red Lammas) Sown Autumn 1
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f manure again in 1845?” “Precisely that, Deacon,” said I, “and this same plot has received this amount of manure every year since, up to the present time--for these same experiments
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of corn and 789 lbs. of straw, which was the increase obtained by the same amount of ammoniacal salt on 10_a_, as compared with 10_b_. “It will be observed, however, that in the forme
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monia-salts alone on plot 10_a_, gave 19¼ bushels per acre, while the same quantity of ammonia, with superphosphate in addition, gave, on plot 9_b_, 25 bushels per acre. The addition
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--“What have you here?” --“Ammonia,” said I; and at 6_b_ he asked the same question, and I replied “ammonia.” At 7_a_, the same question and the same answer. Standing between 7_b_ and
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that the next year and the year after, the salt _was_ applied at the same time as the other manures. It gave an increase of 94 lbs. of grain and 61 lbs. of straw in 1851, but the foll
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uite 29 bushels per acre, and only weighed 55 lbs. per bushel. On the same plot, the year before, with precisely the same manure, the yield was nearly 37 bushels per acre, and the weig
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e consider that this is the twentieth wheat-crop in succession on the same land, these figures are certainly remarkable. “They are so,” said the Deacon, “and what to me is the most su
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king them together in a bottle, and allowing the soil to subside, the same result was obtained. The action, therefore, was in no way referable to any physical law brought into operatio
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s in the spring assumed a rich, dark green color. I have observed the same effect where coal-ashes were spread on grass-land; and I have thought that the apparent benefit was due large
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shes Experiments on the Growth of Barley, Year After Year, on the Same Land, Without Manure, and With Different Descriptions of Manure, Hoos Field, Rothamsted, England. Tabl
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rs.] Experiments on the Growth of Barley, Year After Year, on the Same Land, Without Manure, and With Different Descriptions of Manure, Hoos Field, Rothamsted, England. Tabl
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traw. “That will do,” said the Deacon, “but I see that in 1857, this same plot, with the same manure, produced 66½ bushels of dressed grain per acre, weighing 53½ lbs. to the bushel,
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nips does not enrich land for grain crops. Turnips were grown on the same land, year after year, for ten years. The land was then plowed and sown to barley for three years. The follow
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them. In 1857, I made the following experiments on potatoes, in the same field on which the preceding experiment was made in 1852. In this case, as before, the land was a two-year-o
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n autumn, has afforded a yield of about 70 bushels per acre, when the same amount applied in spring, gave only 50 bushels. A thin coating of manure applied to winter-wheat at the time
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And such facts and experiments as we have, seem to indicate that the same is also true of Indian corn. It is, at any rate, reasonable to suppose that, as Indian corn belongs to the sa
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Plot 10, with 400 lbs. of unleached wood-ashes per acre, produces the same quantity of _sound corn_, with an extra bushel of ‘nubbins’ per acre, as plot 1, without any manure at all; a
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gave an increase of 14½ tons per acre. And the following year, on the same land, it gave an increase of 13½ tons; and the next year, on the same land, over 9 tons.” “Yes,” said I, “th
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res did any good. Ellwanger & Barry also tried them, and reported the same negative result. This was several years ago, and I do not think any similar experiments have been made since.
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e land_, $1.06. “A ton of the fresh fæces,” said the Deacon, “at the same estimate, would be worth (20 lbs. nitrogen, at 20 cents, $4; 21¾ lbs. phosphoric acid, at 12½ cents, $2.70),
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ticle.” As to whether it is better, when you can buy nitrogen at the same price in nitrate of soda as you can in sulphate of ammonia, to use the one or the other will depend on circum
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crop of wheat. And the experience of farmers everywhere tends in the same direction. England is the greatest turnip-growing country in the world, and you will find that where one farm
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e, this was to be expected, and they had expected it much sooner. The same with wheat; he expected the end would come in a few years, but they had now gone on between 30 and 40 years.
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y giving to it the food necessary to grow good grasses, sowing at the same time a small quantity of the best seeds. I further suggested that a flock of sheep should be allowed to run o
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se in the fall for wheat, on land that has been cropped with oats the same year. The manure put on for potatoes is generally estimated to enrich the land sufficient for it to produce o
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ng for, 35-168 ” the 20th Crop on Same Land, 213 ” Top-dressing for, 270 ”
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value.” “Suppose, Deacon,” said he _quotation marks as in original (same speaker)_ carbonaceous matter and water, of little or no value?” _text has question mark after close quote_
* Containing nitrogen | .44 | .53 | .63 | .46 | .72
Equal to ammonia | .53 | .66 | .75 | .56 | .88
† Containing nitrogen | 1.46 | 1.77 | 2.14 | 1.78 | 1.88
Equal to ammonia | 1.77 | 2.14 | 2.59 | 2.16 | 2.26
Total amount of nitrogen | 1.90 | 2.30 | 2.77 | 2.24 | 2.60
Equal to ammonia | 2.30 | 2.80 | 3.35 | 2.72 | 3.08
Ammonia in free state | .10 | .067 | .127 | .026 | .033
Ammonia in form of salts,| | | | |
easily decomposed | | | | |
by quicklime | .26 | .165 | .234 | .182 | .250
Total amount of organic | | | | |
matter | 83.48 | 70.64 | 69.73 | 53.27 | 56.66
Total amount of mineral | | | | |
substance | 16.52 | 29.36 | 30.27 | 46.73 | 43.34
-------------------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------
The above analyses are of value to those who buy fresh and fermented
manure. They can form some idea of what they are getting. If they buy a
ton of fresh manure in November, they get 12¾ lbs. of nitrogen, and 30¾
lbs. of soluble mineral matter. If they buy a ton of the same manure
that has been kept under cover until February, they get, nitrogen, 15
lbs.; soluble minerals, 42½ lbs. In April, they get, nitrogen, 23¾ lbs.;
soluble minerals, 67½ lbs. In August, they get, nitrogen, 25½ lbs.;
soluble minerals, 61 lbs. In November, when the manure is over one year
old, they get, in a ton, nitrogen, 30¼ lbs.; soluble minerals, 88½ lbs.
When manure has not been exposed, it is clear that a purchaser can
afford to pay considerably more for a ton of rotted manure than for a
ton of fresh manure. But waiving this point for the present, let us see
how the matter stands with the farmer who makes and uses the manure.
What does he gain by keeping and fermenting the manure under cover?
The following table shows the weight and composition of the entire heap
of manure, kept under cover, at different times:
Table Showing Composition of Entire Experimental Heap (No. II.)
Fresh Farm-Yard Manure, Under Shed.
-------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------
|When put |April 30,|Aug. 23, |Nov. 15,
|up, Nov. |1855. |1855. |1855.
|3, 1854. | | |
-------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------
| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs.
Weight of manure | 3,258. |1,613. |1,297. |1,235.
+---------+---------+---------+--------
Amount of water in the manure | 2,156. | 917.6 | 563.2 | 514.5
Amount of dry matter | 1,102. | 695.4 | 733.8 | 720.5
* Consisting of soluble | | | |
organic matter | 80.77| 74.68 | 53.56 | 66.28
Soluble mineral matter | 50.14| 54.51 | 39.55 | 54.68
† Insoluble organic matter | 839.17| 410.24 | 337.32 | 341.97
Insoluble mineral matter | 131.92| 155.97 | 303.37 | 257.57
+---------+---------+---------+--------
| 1,102. | 695.4 | 733.8 | 720.5
| | | |
* Containing nitrogen | 4.85| 4.38 | 3.46 | 5.25
Equal to ammonia | 5.88| 5.33 | 4.20 | 6.37
† Containing nitrogen | 16.08| 14.88 | 13.08 | 13.54
Equal to ammonia | 19.59| 17.46 | 15.88 | 16.44
Total amount of nitrogen | | | |
in manure | 20.93| 19.26 | 16.54 | 18.79
Equal to ammonia | 25.40| 22.79 | 20.08 | 22.81
The manure contains ammonia | | | |
in free state | 1.10| .88 | .19 | .23
The manure contains ammonia | | | |
in form of salts, easily | | | |
decomposed by quicklime | 2.86| 1.62 | 1.33 | 1.80
Total amount of organic matter | 919.94| 484.92 | 390.88 | 408.25
Total amount of mineral matter | 182.06| 210.48 | 342.92 | 312.35
-------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------
This is the table, as given by Dr. Vœlcker. For the sake of comparison,
we will figure out what the changes would be in a heap of five tons
(10,000 lbs.) of manure, when fermented under cover, precisely in the
same way as we did with the heap fermented in the open air, exposed to
the rain. The following is the table:
Contents of a Heap Of Manure at Different Periods. Fermented Under
Cover.
-------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------
|When put |April 30,|Aug. 23, |Nov. 15,
|up, Nov. |1855. |1855. |1855.
|3, 1854. | | |
-------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------
| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs.
Total weight of manure in heap | 10,000 | 4,960 | 4,000 |3,790
Water in the heap of manure | 6,617 | 2,822 | 1,737 |1,579
Total organic matter | 2,824 | 1,490 | 1,205 |1,253
Total inorganic matter | 559 | 646 | 1,057 | 958
Total nitrogen in heap | 64.3| 59 | 50.8| 57.2
Total soluble organic matter | 248 | 230 | 165 | 203.5
Insoluble organic matter | 2,576 | 1,260 | 1,040 |1,049
Soluble mineral matter | 154 | 167 | 122 | 168
Insoluble mineral matter | 405 | 479 | 935 | 790
Nitrogen in soluble matter | 14.9| 13.4| 10.4| 15.9
Nitrogen in insoluble matter | 49.4| 45.6| 40.4| 41.3
Total dry matter in heap | 3,383 | 2,038 | 2,263 |2,211
-------------------------------+---------+---------+------------------
It will be seen that the heap of manure kept under cover contained, on
the 30th of April, _less_ soluble organic matter, _less_ soluble mineral
matter, _less_ soluble nitrogenous matter, and _less_ total nitrogen
than the heap of manure exposed to the weather. This is precisely what I
should have expected. The heap of manure in the shed probably fermented
more rapidly than the heap out of doors, and there was not water enough
in the manure to retain the carbonate of ammonia, or to favor the
production of organic acids. _The heap was too dry._ If it could have
received enough of the liquid from the stables to have kept it
moderately moist, the result would have been very different.
We will postpone further consideration of this point at present, and
look at the results of another of Dr. Vœlcker’s interesting experiments.
Dr. Vœlcker wished to ascertain the effect of three common methods of
managing manure:
1st. Keeping it in a _heap_ in the open air in the barn-yard, or field.
2d. Keeping it in a _heap_ under cover in a shed.
3d. Keeping it _spread out_ over the barn-yard.
“You say these are common methods of managing manure,” remarked the
Deacon, “but I never knew any one in this country take the trouble to
spread manure over the yard.”
“Perhaps not,” I replied, “but you have known a good many farmers who
adopt this very method of keeping their manure. They do not spread
it--but they let it lie spread out over the yards, just wherever it
happens to be.”
Let us see what the effect of this treatment is on the composition and
value of the manure.
We have examined the effect of keeping manure in a heap in the open air,
and also of keeping it in a heap under cover. Now let us see how these
methods compare with the practice of leaving it exposed to the rains,
spread out in the yard.
On the 3rd of November, 1854, Dr. Vœlcker weighed out 1,652 lbs. of
manure similar to that used in the preceding experiments, and spread it
out in the yard. It was weighed April 30, and again August 23, and
November 15.
The following table gives the actual weight of the manure at the
different periods, also the actual amount of the water, organic matter,
ash, nitrogen, etc.:
Table Showing the Weight and Composition of Entire Mass of
Experimental Manure (No. Iii.), Fresh Farm-Yard Manure, Spread
in Open Yard at Different Periods of the Year. In Natural State.
-------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------
|When put |April 30,|Aug. 23, |Nov. 15,
|up, Nov. |1855. |1855. |1855.
|3, 1854. | | |
-------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------
| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs.
Weight of manure |1,652. |1,429. |1,012. |950.
+---------+---------+---------+--------
Amount of water in the manure |1,093. |1,143. | 709.3 |622.8
Amount of dry matter | 559. | 285.5 | 302.7 |327.2
* Consisting of soluble | | | |
organic matter | 40.97 | 16.55 | 4.96 | 3.95
Soluble mineral matter | 25.43 | 14.41 | 6.47 | 5.52
† Insoluble organic matter | 425.67 | 163.79 | 106.81 | 94.45
Insoluble mineral matter | 66.93 | 90.75 | 184.46 |223.28
+---------+---------+---------+--------
| 559.00 | 285.50 | 302.70 |327.20
| | | |
* Containing nitrogen | 3.28 | 1.19 | .60 | .32
Equal to ammonia | 3.98 | 1.44 | .73 | .39
† Containing nitrogen | 6.21 | 6.51 | 3.54 | 3.56
Equal to ammonia | 7.54 | 7.90 | 4.29 | 4.25
Total amount of nitrogen in | | | |
manure | 9.19 | 7.70 | 4.14 | 3.88
Equal to ammonia | 11.52 | 9.34 | 5.02 | 4.64
The manure contains ammonia | | | |
in free state | .55 | .14 | .13 | .0055
The manure contains ammonia | | | |
in form of salts, easily | | | |
decomposed by quicklime | 1.45 | .62 | .55 | .28
Total amount of organic matter | 466.64 | 180.34 | 111.77 | 98.40
Total amount of mineral matter | 92.36 | 105.16 | 190.93 |228.80
-------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------
“One moment,” said the Deacon. “These tables are a little confusing. The
table you have just given shows the actual weight of the manure in the
heap, and what it contained at different periods.” --“Yes,” said I, “and
the table following shows what 100 lbs. of this manure, spread out in
the yard, contained at the different dates mentioned. It shows how
greatly manure deteriorates by being exposed to rain, spread out on the
surface of the yard. The table merits careful study.”
Table Showing Composition of Experimental Heap (No. III.). Fresh Farm
Yard Manure, Spread in Open Yard, at Different Periods of the Year.
In Natural State.
-------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+---------
|When put |April 30,|Aug. 23,|Nov. 15,
|up, Nov. |1855. |1855. |1855.
|3, 1854. | | |
-------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+---------
Water | 66.17 | 80.02 | 70.09 | 65.56
* Soluble organic matter | 2.48 | 1.16 | .49 | .42
Soluble inorganic matter | 1.54 | 1.01 | .64 | .57
† Insoluble organic matter | 25.76 | 11.46 | 10.56 | 9.94
Insoluble mineral matter | 4.05 | 6.35 | 18.22 | 23.51
+---------+---------+--------+---------
| 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00
| | | |
* Containing nitrogen | .149 | .08 | .06 | .03
Equal to ammonia | .181 | .69 | .07 | .036
† Containing nitrogen | .494 | .45 | .35 | .36
Equal to ammonia | .599 | .54 | .42 | .46
Total amount of nitrogen | .643 | .53 | .41 | .39
Equal to ammonia | .780 | .63 | .49 | .496
Ammonia in free state | .034 | .010 | .012| .0006
Ammonia in form of salts, | | | |
easily decomposed by | | | |
quicklime | .088 | .045 | .051| .030
Total amount of organic matter | 28.24 | 12.62 | 11.05 | 10.36
Total amount of mineral | | | |
substance | 5.59 | 7.36 | 18.86 | 24.08
-------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+---------
The following table shows the composition of the manure, calculated dry:
Table Showing Composition of Experimental Heap (No. III.), Fresh Farm
Yard Manure, Spread in Open Yard, at Different Periods of the Year.
Calculated Dry.
-------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+---------
|When put |April 30,|Aug. 23,|Nov. 15,
|up, Nov. |1855. |1855. |1855.
|3, 1854. | | |
-------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+---------
* Soluble organic matter | 7.33 | 5.80 | 1.64 | 1.21
Soluble inorganic matter | 4.55 | 5.05 | 2.14 | 1.69
† Insoluble organic matter | 76.15 | 57.37 | 35.30 | 28.86
Insoluble mineral matter | 11.97 | 31.78 | 60.92 | 68.24
+---------+---------+--------+---------
| 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00
| | | |
* Containing nitrogen | .44 | .42 | .20 | .10
Equal to ammonia | .53 | .51 | .24 | .12
† Containing nitrogen | 1.46 | 2.28 | 1.17 | 1.09
Equal to ammonia | 1.77 | 2.76 | 1.41 | 1.32
Total amount of nitrogen | 1.90 | 2.70 | 1.37 | 1.19
Equal to ammonia | 2.30 | 3.27 | 1.65 | 1.44
Ammonia in free state | .10 | .05 | .040| .0017
Ammonia in form of salts, | | | |
easily decomposed by | | | |
quicklime | .26 | .225 | .171| .087
Total amount of organic matter | 83.48 | 63.17 | 36.94 | 30.07
Total amount of mineral | | | |
substance | 16.52 | 36.83 | 63.06 | 69.93
-------------------------------+---------+---------+--------+---------
I have made out the following table, showing what would be the changes
in a heap of 5 tons (10,000 lbs.) of manure, spread out in the yard, so
that we can readily see the effect of this method of management as
compared with the other two methods of keeping the manure in compact
heaps, one exposed, the other under cover.
The following is the table:
Contents of the Mass of Manure, Spread Out in Farm-Yard, and Exposed
to Rain, Etc.
------------------------------+-----------+--------+---------+--------
|When |Apr. 30.|Aug. 23. |Nov. 15.
|spread out,| | |
|Nov. 3. | | |
------------------------------+-----------+--------+---------+--------
| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs.
Total weight of manure | 10,000 | 8,350 | 6,130 | 5,750
Water in the manure | 6,617 | 6,922 | 4,297 | 3,771
Total organic matter | 2,824 | 1,092 | 677 | 595
Total inorganic matter | 559 | 636 | 1,155 | 1,384
Total nitrogen in manure | 64.3 | 45.9 | 25 | 22.4
Total soluble organic matter | 248 | 100 | 30 | 24
Insoluble organic matter | 2,576 | 992 | 647 | 571
Soluble mineral matter | 154 | 87 | 39 | 33
Insoluble mineral matter | 405 | 549 | 1,116 | 1,351
Nitrogen in soluble matter | 14.9 | 6.9 | 3.6 | 1.7
Nitrogen in insoluble matter | 49.4 | 39 | 21.4 | 20.7
------------------------------+-----------+--------+---------+--------
It is not necessary to make many remarks on this table. The facts speak
for themselves. It will be seen that there is considerable loss even by
letting the manure lie spread out until spring; but, serious as this
loss is, it is small compared to the loss sustained by allowing the
manure to lie exposed in the yard during the summer.
In the five tons of fresh manure, we have, November 3, 64.3 lbs. of
nitrogen; April 30, we have 46 lbs.; August 23, only 25 lbs. This is a
great loss of the most valuable constituent of the manure. Of soluble
mineral matter, the next most valuable ingredient, we have in the five
tons of fresh manure, November 3, 154 lbs.; April 30, 87 lbs.; and
August 23, only 39 lbs. Of soluble nitrogen, the most active and
valuable part of the manure, we have, November 3, nearly 15 lbs.; April
30, not quite 7 lbs.; August 23, 3½ lbs.; and November 15, not quite 1¾
lbs.
Dr. Vœlcker made still another experiment. He took 1,613 lbs. of
_well-rotted_ dung (mixed manure from horses, cows, and pigs,) and kept
it in a heap, exposed to the weather, from December 5 to April 30,
August 23, and November 15, weighing it and analyzing it at these
different dates. I think it is not necessary to give the results in
detail. From the 5th of December to the 30th of April, there was _no
loss_ of nitrogen in the heap, and comparatively little loss of soluble
mineral matters; but from April 30 to August 23, there was considerable
loss in both these valuable ingredients, which were washed out of the
heap by rain.
Dr. Vœlcker draws the following conclusions from his experiments:
“Having described at length my experiments with farm-yard manure,” he
says, “it may not be amiss to state briefly the more prominent and
practically interesting points which have been developed in the course
of this investigation. I would, therefore, observe:
“1. Perfectly fresh farm yard manure contains but a small proportion of
free ammonia.
“2. The nitrogen in fresh dung exists principally in the state of
insoluble nitrogenized matters.
“3. The soluble organic and mineral constituents of dung are much more
valuable fertilizers than the insoluble. Particular care, therefore,
should be bestowed upon the preservation of the liquid excrements of
animals, and for the same reason the manure should be kept in perfectly
water-proof pits of sufficient capacity to render the setting up of
dung-heaps in the corner of fields, as much as it is possible,
unnecessary.
“4. Farm-yard manure, even in quite a fresh state, contains phosphate of
lime, which is much more soluble than has hitherto been suspected.
SOURCES & PROVENANCE
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Talks on Manures A Series of Familiar and Practical Talks Between the Author and the Deacon, the Doctor, and Other Neighbors, on the Whole Subject
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