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 TEXT

* 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.