“Because,” said Charley, “the ton of straw does not contain as much valuable plant-food as the ton of corn-fodder, nor the ton of corn-fodder as much as the ton of clover-hay.”
“Now then,” said I, “instead of putting a ton of straw in one heap to rot, and a ton of corn-fodder in another heap, and a ton of clover in another heap, we feed the ton of straw to a cow, and the ton of corn-fodder to another cow, and the ton of clover to another cow, and saveallthe solid and liquid excrements, will the manure made from the ton of straw be worth as much as the manure made from the ton of corn-fodder or clover-hay?”
“No,” said Charley. —“Certainly not,” said the Doctor. —“I am not so sure about it,” said the Deacon; “I think you will get more manure from the corn-fodder than from the straw or clover-hay.”
“We are not talking about bulk,” said the Doctor, “but value.” “Suppose, Deacon,” said he, “you were to shut up a lot of your Brahma hens, and feed them a ton of corn-meal, and should also feed a ton of corn-meal made into slops to a lot of pigs, and should saveallthe liquid and solid excrements from the pigs, and all the manure from the hens, which would be worth the most?” —“The hen-manure, of course,” said the Deacon, who has great faith in this kind of “guano,” as he calls it.
“And yet,” said the Doctor, “you would probably not get more than half a ton of manure from the hens, while the liquid and solid excrements from the pigs, if the corn-meal was made into a thin slop, would weigh two or three tons.”
“More, too,” said the Deacon, “the way you feed your store pigs.”
“Very well; and yet you say that the half ton of hen-manure made from a ton of corn is worth more than the two or three tons of pig-manure made from a ton of corn. You do not seem to think, after all, that mere bulk or weight adds anything to the value of the manure. Why then should you say that the manure from a ton of corn-fodder is worth more than from a ton of straw, because it is more bulky?”
“You, yourself,” said the Deacon, “also say the manure from the ton of corn-fodder is worth more than from the ton of straw.” —“True,” said I “butnotbecause it is more bulky. It is worth more because the ton of corn-fodder contains a greater quantity of valuable plant-food than the ton of straw. The clover is still richer in this valuable plant-food, and the manure is much more valuable; in fact, the manure from the ton of clover is worth as much as the manure from the ton of straw and the ton of corn-fodder together.”
“I would like to see you prove that,” said the Deacon, “for if it is true, I will sell no more clover-hay. I can’t get as much for clover-hay in the market as I can for rye-straw.”
“I will not attempt toproveit at present,” said the Doctor; “but the evidence is so strong and so conclusive that no rational man, who will study the subject, can fail to be thoroughly convinced of its truth.”
“The value of manure,” said I, “does not depend on the quantity of water which it contains, or on the quantity of sand, or silica, or on the amount of woody fibre or carbonaceous matter. These things add little or nothing to its fertilizing value, except in rare cases; and the sulphuric acid and lime are worth no more than the same quantity of sulphate of lime or gypsum, and the chlorine and soda are probably worth no more than so much common salt. The real chemical value of the manure, other things being equal, is in proportion to the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, that the manure contains.
“And the quantity of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash found in the manure is determined, other things being equal, by the quantity of the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash contained in the food consumed by the animals making the manure.”
The amount of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, contained in different foods, has been accurately determined by many able and reliable chemists.
The following table was prepared by Dr. J. B. Lawes, of Rothamsted, England, and was first published in this country in the “Genesee Farmer,” for May, 1860. Since then, it has been repeatedly published in nearly all the leading agricultural journals of the world, and has given rise to much discussion. The following is the table, with some recent additions:
TDTotal dry matter.
TMTotal mineral matter (ash).
PhPhosphoric acid reckoned as phosphate of lime.
PPotash.
NNitrogen.
VValue of manure in dollars and cents from 1 ton (2,000 lbs.) of food.
* The manure from a ton of undecorticated cotton-seed cake is worth $15.74; that from a ton of cotton-seed, after being ground and sifted, is worth $13.25. The grinding and sifting in Mr. Lawes’ experiments, removed about 8 per cent of husk and cotton. Cotton-seed, so treated, proved to be a very rich and economical food.
† Middlings, Canielle.
‡ Shipstuff.
Of all vegetable substances used for food, it will be seen that decorticated cotton-seed cake is the richest in nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, and consequently makes the richest and most valuable manure. According to Mr. Lawes’ estimate, the manure from a ton of decorticated cotton-seed cake is worth $27.86 in gold.
Rape-cake comes next. Twenty-five to thirty years ago, rape-cake, ground as fine as corn-meal, was used quite extensively on many of the light-land farms of England as a manure for turnips, and not unfrequently as a manure for wheat. Mr. Lawes used it for many years in his experiments on turnips and on wheat.
Of late years, however, it has been fed to sheep and cattle. In other words, it has been used, not as formerly, for manure alone, but for food first, and manure afterwards. The oil and other carbonaceous matter which the cake contains is of little value for manure, while it is of great value as food. The animals take out this carbonaceous matter, and leave nearly all the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash in the manure. Farmers who had found it profitable to use on wheat and turnips for manure alone, found it still more profitable to use it first for food, and then for manure afterwards. Mr. Lawes, it will be seen, estimates the manure produced from the consumption of a ton of rape-cake at $21.01.
Linseed-oil cake comes next. Pure linseed-cake is exceedingly valuable, both for food and manure. It is a favorite food with all cattle and sheep breeders and feeders. It has a wonderful effect in improving the appearance of cattle and sheep. An English farmer thinks he cannot get along without “cake” for his calves, lambs, cattle, and sheep. In this country, it is not so extensively used, except by the breeders of improved stock. It is so popular in England that the price is fully up to its intrinsic value, and not unfrequently other foods, in proportion to the nutritive and manurial value, can be bought cheaper. This fact shows the value of a good reputation. Linseed-cake, however, is often adulterated, and farmers need to be cautious who they deal with. When pure, it will be seen that the manure made by the consumption of a ton of linseed-cake is worth $19.72.
Malt-dust stands next on the list. This article is known by different names. In England, it is often called “malt-combs;” here it is known as “malt-sprouts,” or “malt-roots.” In making barley into malt, the barley is soaked in water, and afterwards kept in a warm room until it germinates, and throws out sprouts and roots. It is then dried, and before the malt is used, these dried sprouts and roots are sifted out, and are sold for cattle-food. They weighfrom 22 to 25 lbs. per bushel of 40 quarts. They are frequently mixed 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 obtained at a mere nominal price. Milkmen, I believe, prefer the “grains” to the malt-dust. The latter, however, is a good food for sheep. It has one advantage over brewer’s “grains.” The latter contain 76 per cent of water, while the malt-dust contains only 6 per cent of water. We can afford, therefore, to transport malt-dust to a greater distance than the grains. We do not want to carrywatermany miles. There is another advantage: brewer’s grains soon ferment, and become sour; while the malt-dust, being dry, will keep for any length of time. It will be seen that Mr. Lawes estimates the value of the manure left from the consumption of a ton of malt-dust at $18.21.
Tares or vetches, lentils, linseed or flaxseed, beans, wheat, bran, middlings, fine mill-feed, undecorticated cotton-seed cake, peas, and cotton-seed, stand next on the list. The value of these for manure ranging from $13.25 to $16.75 per ton.
Then comes clover-hay. Mr. Lawes estimates the value of the manure from the consumption of a ton of clover-hay at $9.64. This is from early cut clover-hay.
When clover is allowed to grow until it is nearly out of flower, the hay would not contain so much nitrogen, and would not be worth quite so much per ton for manure. When mixed with timothy or other grasses, or with weeds, it would not be so valuable. The above estimate is for the average quality of good pure English clover-hay. Our best farmers raise clover equally as good; but I have seen much clover-hay that certainly would not come up to this standard. Still, even our common clover-hay makes rich manure. In Wolff’s Table, given in the appendix, it will be seen that clover-hay contains only 1.97 per cent of nitrogen and 5.7 per cent of ash. Mr. Lawes’ clover contains more nitrogen and ash. This means richer land and a less mature condition of the crop.
The cereal grains, wheat, barley, oats, and Indian corn, stand next on the list, being worth from $6.32 to $7.70 per ton for manure.
“Meadow-hay,” which in the table is estimated as worth $6.43 per ton for manure, is the hay from permanent meadows. It is a quite different article from the “English Meadow-hay” of New England. It is, in fact, the perfection of hay. The meadows are frequently top-dressed with composted manure or artificial fertilizers,and the hay is composed of a number of the best grasses, cut early and carefully cured. It will be noticed, however, that even this choice meadow-hay is not as valuable for manure as clover-hay.
English bean-straw is estimated as worth $3.87 per ton for manure. The English “horse bean,” which is the kind here alluded to, has a very stiff, coarse long straw, and looks as though it was much inferior as fodder, to the straw of our ordinary white beans. See Wolff’s table in the appendix.
Pea-straw is estimated at $3.74 per ton. When the peas are not allowed to grow until dead ripe, and when the straw is carefully cured, it makes capital food for sheep. Taking the grain and straw together, it will be seen that peas are an unusually valuable crop to grow for the purpose of making rich manure.
The straw of oats, wheat, and barley, is worth from $2.25 to $2.90 per ton. Barley straw being the poorest for manure, and oat straw the richest.
Potatoes are worth $1.50 per ton, or nearly 5 cents a bushel for manure.
The manurial value of roots varies from 80 cents a ton for carrots, to $1.07 for mangel-wurzel, and $1.14 for parsnips.
I am very anxious that there should be no misapprehension as to the meaning of these figures. I am sure they are well worth the careful study of every intelligent farmer. Mr. Lawes has been engaged in making experiments for over thirty years. There is no man more competent to speak with authority on such a subject. The figures showing the money value of the manure made from the different foods, are based on the amount of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, which they contain. Mr. Lawes has been buying and using artificial manures for many years, and is quite competent to form a correct conclusion as to the cheapest sources of obtaining nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash. He has certainly not overestimated theircost. They can not be bought at lower rates, either in England or America. But of course it does not follow from this that these manures are worth to the farmer the price charged for them; that is a matter depending on many conditions. All that can be said is, that if you are going to buy commercial manures, you will have to pay at least as much for the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, as the price fixed upon by Mr. Lawes. And you should recollect that there are other ingredients in the manure obtained from the food of animals, which are not estimated as of any value in the table. For instance, there is a large amount of carbonaceous matter in the manure of animals,which, for some crops, is not without value, but which is not here taken into account.
Viewed from a farmer’s stand-point, the table of money values must be taken only in a comparative sense. It is not claimed that the manure from a ton of wheat-straw is worth $2.68. This may, or may not, be the case. Butifthe manure from a ton of wheat-straw is worth $2.08,thenthe manure from a ton of pea-straw is worth $3.74, and the manure from a ton of corn-meal is worth $6.65, and the manure from a ton of clover-hay is worth $9.64, and the manure from a ton of wheat-bran is worth $14.59.Ifthe manure from a ton of corn meal isnotworth $6.65, then the manure from a ton of bran is not worth $14.59. If the manure from the ton of corn is worthmorethan $6.65, then the manure from a ton of bran is worthmorethan $14.59. There need be no doubt on this point.
Settle in your own mind what the manure from a ton of any one of the foods mentioned is worth on your farm, and you can easily calculate what the manure is worth from all the others. If you say that the manure from a ton of wheat-straw is worth $1.34, then the manure from a ton of Indian corn is worth $3.33, and the manure from a ton of bran is worth $7.30, and the manure from a ton of clover-hay is worth $4.82.
In this section, however, few good farmers are willing to sell straw, though they can get from $8.00 to $10.00 per ton for it. They think it must be consumed on the farm, or used for bedding, or their land will run down. I do not say they are wrong, but I do say, that if a ton of straw is worth $2.68 for manure alone, then a ton of clover-hay is worth $9.64 for manure alone. This may be accepted as a general truth, and one which a farmer can act upon. And so, too, in regard to the value of corn-meal, bran, and all the other articles given in the table.
There is another point of great importance which should be mentioned in this connection. The nitrogen in the better class of foods is worth more for manure than the nitrogen in straw, corn-stalks, and other coarse fodder. Nearly all the nitrogen in grain, and other rich foods, is digested by the animals, and is voided in solution in the urine. In other words, the nitrogen in the manure is in an active and available condition. On the other hand, only about half the nitrogen in the coarse fodders and straw is digestible. The other half passes off in a crude and comparatively unavailable condition, in the solid excrement. In estimating the value of the manure from a ton of food, these facts should be remembered.
I have said that if the manure from a ton of straw is worth $2.68, the manure from a ton of corn is worth $6.65; but I will not reverse the proposition, and say that if the manure from a ton of corn is worth $6.65, the manure from a ton of straw is worth $2.68. The manure from the grain is nearly all in an available condition, while that from the straw is not. A pound of nitrogen in rich manure is worth more than a pound of nitrogen in poor manure. This is another reason why we should try to make rich manure.
The manure from horses is generally considered richer and better than that from cows. This is not always the case, though it is probably so as a rule. There are three principal reasons for this. 1st. The horse is usually fed more grain and hay than the cow. In other words, the food of the horse is usually richer in the valuable elements of plant-food than the ordinary food of the cow. 2d. The milk of the cow abstracts considerable nitrogen, phosphoric acid, etc., from the food, and to this extent there is less of these valuable substances in the excrements. 3d. The excrements of the cow contain much more water than those of the horse. And consequently a ton of cow-dung, other things being equal, would not contain as much actual manure as a ton of horse-dung.
Boussingault, who is eminently trustworthy, gives us the following interesting facts:
A horse consumed in 24 hours, 20 lbs. of hay, 6 lbs. of oats, and 43 lbs. of water, and voided during the same period, 3 lbs. 7 ozs. of urine, and 38 lbs. 2 ozs. of solid excrements.
The solid excrements contained 23½ lbs. of water, and the urine 2 lbs. 6 ozs. of water.
According to this, a horse, eating 20 lbs. of hay, and 6 lbs. of oats, per day, voids in a year nearly seven tons of solid excrements, and 1,255 lbs. of urine.
It would seem that there must have been some mistake in collecting the urine, or what was probably the case, that some of it must have been absorbed by the dung; for 3½ pints of urine per day is certainly much less than is usually voided by a horse.
Stockard gives the amount of urine voided by a horse in a year at 3,000 lbs.; a cow, 8,000 lbs.; sheep, 380 lbs.; pig, 1,200 lbs.
Dr. Vœlcker, at the Royal Agricultural College, at Cirencester, England, made some valuable investigations in regard to the composition of farm-yard manure, and the changes which take place during fermentation.
The manure was composed of horse, cow, and pig-dung, mixed with the straw used for bedding in the stalls, pig-pens, sheds, etc.
On the 3d of November, 1854, a sample of what Dr. Vœlcker calls “Fresh Long Dung,” was taken from the “manure-pit” for analysis. It had lain in the pit or heap about 14 days.
The following is the result of the analysis:
“Before you go any farther,” said the Deacon, “let me understand what these figures mean? Do you mean that a ton of manure contains only 12¾ lbs. of nitrogen, and 111 lbs. of ash, and that all the rest is carbonaceous matter and water, of little or no value?”—“That is it precisely, Deacon,” said I, “and furthermore, a large part of the ash has very little fertilizing value, as seen from the following:
Insoluble silicious matter (sand)
Oxide of iron, alumina, with phosphate
Containing phosphoric acid
Carbonic acid and loss
Nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, are the most valuable ingredients in manure. It will be seen that a ton of fresh barn-yard manure, of probably good average quality, contains:
I do not say that these are the only ingredients of any value in a ton of manure. Nearly all the other ingredients are indispensable to the growth of plants, and if we should use manures containing nothing but nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, the time would come when the crops would fail, from lack of a sufficient quantity of, perhaps, magnesia, or lime, sulphuric acid, or soluble silica, or iron. But it is not necessary to make provision for such a contingency.Itwould be a very exceptional case. Farmers who depend mainly on barn-yard manure, or on plowing under green crops for keeping up the fertility of the land, may safely calculate that the value of the manure is in proportion to the amount of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, it contains.
We draw out a ton of fresh manure and spread it on the land, therefore, in order to furnish the growing crops with 12¾ lbs. of nitrogen, 6½ lbs. of phosphoric acid, and 13½ lbs. of potash. Less than 33 lbs. in all!
We cannot dispense with farm-yard manure. We can seldom buy nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, as cheaply as we can get them in home-made manures. But we should clearly understand the fact that we draw out 2,000 lbs. of matter in order to get 33 lbs. of these fertilizing ingredients. We shouldtry to make richer manure. A ton of manure containing 60 lbs. of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, costs no more to draw out and spread, than a ton containing only 30 lbs., and it would be worth nearly or quite double the money.
How to make richer manure we will not discuss at this time. It is a question of food. But it is worth while to enquire if we can not take such manure as we have, and reduce its weight and bulk without losing any of its nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash.
Dr. Vœlcker placed 2,838 lbs. of fresh mixed manure in a heap Nov. 3, 1854, and the next spring, April 30, it weighed 2,026 lbs., a shrinkage in weight of 28.6 per cent. In other words 100 tons of such manure would be reduced to less than 71½ tons.
The heap was weighed again, August 23d, and contained 1,994 lbs. It was again weighed Nov. 15, and contained 1,974 lbs.
The following table shows the composition of the heap when first put up, and also at the three subsequent periods:
TABLE SHOWING COMPOSITION OF THE WHOLE HEAP; FRESH FARM-YARD MANURE (NO. I.) EXPOSED—EXPRESSED IN LBS.
Weight of manure in lbs.
Amt. of water in the manure
Amt. of dry matter in the manure
Total amount of nitrogen in manure
The manure contains ammonia in free state
The manure contains ammonia in form of salts, easily decomposed by quicklime
Total amount of organic matters
Total amount of mineral matters
“It will be remarked,” says Dr. Vœlcker, “that in the first experimental period, the fermentation of the dung, as might have been expected, proceeded most rapidly, but that, notwithstanding, very little nitrogen was dissipated in the form of volatile ammonia; and that on the whole, the loss which the manure sustained was inconsiderable when compared with the enormous waste to which it was subject in the subsequent warmer and more rainy seasons of the year. Thus we find at the end of April very nearly the same amount of nitrogen which is contained in the fresh; whereas, at the end of August, 27.9 per cent of the total nitrogen, or nearly one-third of the nitrogen in the manure, has been wasted in one way or the other.
“It is worthy of observation,” continues Dr. Vœlcker, “that, during a well-regulated fermentation of dung, the loss in intrinsically valuable constituents is inconsiderable, and that in such a preparatory process theefficacy of the manure becomes greatly enhanced. For certain purposes fresh dung can never take theplace of well-rotted dung.**The farmer will, therefore, always be compelled to submit a portion of home-made dung to fermentation, and will find satisfaction in knowing that this process, when well regulated, is not attended with any serious depreciation of the value of the manure. In the foregoing analyses he will find the direct proof that as long as heavy showers of rain are excluded from manure-heaps, or the manure is kept in water-proof pits, the most valuable fertilizing matters are preserved.”
This experiment of Dr. Vœlcker proves conclusively that manure can be kept in a rapid state of fermentation for six months during winter, with little loss of nitrogen or other fertilizing matter.
During fermentation a portion of the insoluble matter of the dung becomes soluble, and if the manure is then kept in a heap exposed to rain, there is a great loss of fertilizing matter. This is precisely what we should expect. We ferment manure to make it more readily available as plant-food, and when we have attained our object, the manure should be applied to the land. We keep winter apples in the cellar until they get ripe. As soon as they are ripe, they should be eaten, or they will rapidly decay. This is well understood. And it should be equally well known that manure, after it has been fermenting in a heap for six months, cannot safely be kept for another six months exposed to the weather.
The following table shows the composition of 100 lbs. of the farm-yard manure, at different periods of the year:
COMPOSITION OF 100 LBS. OF FRESH FARM-YARD MANURE (NO. I.) EXPOSED IN NATURAL STATE, AT DIFFERENT PERIODS OF THE YEAR.
Soluble organic matter
Soluble inorganic matter
Insoluble organic matter
Insoluble mineral matter
Total amount of nitrogen
Ammonia in a free state
Ammonia in form of salts easily decomposed by quicklime
Total amt. of organic matter
Total amt. of mineral substances
It will be seen that two-thirds of the fresh manure is water. After fermenting in an exposed heap for six months, it still containsabout the samepercentageof water. When kept in the heap until August, the percentage of water is much greater. Of four tons of such manure, three tons are water.
OfNitrogen, the most valuable ingredient of the manure, the fresh dung, contained 0.64 per cent; after fermenting six months, it contained 0.89 per cent. Six months later, it contained 0.65 per cent, or about the same amount as the fresh manure.
Of mineral matter, or ash, this fresh farm-yard manure contained 5.59 per cent; of which 1.54 was soluble in water, and 4.05 insoluble. After fermenting in the heap for six months, the manure contained 10.55 per cent of ash, of which 2.86 was soluble, and 7.69 insoluble. Six months later, the soluble ash had decreased to 1.97 per cent.
The following table shows the composition of the manure, at different periods, in thedry state. In other words, supposing all the water to be removed from the manure, its composition would be as follows:
COMPOSITION OF FRESH FARM-YARD MANURE (NO. I.) EXPOSED. CALCULATED DRY.
Soluble organic matter
Soluble inorganic matter
Insoluble organic matter
Insoluble mineral matter
Total amount of nitrogen
Ammonia in free state
Ammonia in form of salts easily decomposed by quicklime
Total amount of organic matter
Total amount of mineral substances
“A comparison of these different analyses,” says Dr. Vœlcker, “points out clearly the changes which fresh farm-yard manure undergoes on keeping in a heap, exposed to the influence of the weather during a period of twelve months and twelve days.
“1. It will be perceived that the proportion of organic matter steadily diminishes from month to month, until the original percentage of organic matter in the dry manure, amounting to 83.48 per cent, becomes reduced to 53 per cent.
“2. On the other hand, the total percentage of mineral matter rises as steadily as that of the organic matter falls.
“3. It will be seen that the loss in organic matter affects the percentage of insoluble organic matters more than the percentage of soluble organic substances.
“4. The percentage of soluble organic matters, indeed, increased considerably during the first experimental period; it rose, namely, from 7.33 per cent to 12.79 per cent. Examined again on the 30th of April, very nearly the same percentage of soluble organic matter, as on February the 14th, was found. The August analysis shows but a slight decrease in the percentage of soluble organic matters, while there is a decrease of 2 per cent of soluble organic matters when the November analysis is compared with the February analysis.
“5. The soluble mineral matters in this manure rise or fall in the different experimental periods in the same order as the soluble organic matters. Thus, in February, 9.84 per cent of soluble mineral matters were found, whilst the manure contained only 4.55 per cent, when put up into a heap in November, 1854. Gradually, however, the proportion of soluble mineral matters again diminished, and became reduced to 7.27 per cent, on the examination of the manure in November, 1855.
“6. A similar regularity will be observed in the percentage of nitrogen contained in the soluble organic matters.
“7.In the insoluble organic matters, the percentage of nitrogen regularly increased from November, 1854, up to the 23d of August, notwithstanding the rapid diminution of the percentage of insoluble organic matter. For the last experimental period, the percentage of nitrogen in the insoluble matter is nearly the same as on August 23d.
“8. With respect to the total percentage of nitrogen in the fresh manure, examined at different periods of the year, it will be seen that the February manure contains about one-half per cent more of nitrogen than the manure in a perfectly fresh state. On the 30th of April, the percentage of nitrogen again slightly increased; on August 23d, it remained stationary, and had sunk but very little when last examined on the 15th of November, 1855.
“This series of analyses thus shows that fresh farm-yard manure rapidly becomes more soluble in water, but that this desirable change is realized at the expense of a large proportion of organic matters. It likewise proves, in an unmistakable manner, that there is no advantage in keeping farm-yard manure for too long a period; for, after February, neither the percentage of soluble organic, nor that of soluble mineral matter, has become greater,and the percentage of nitrogen in the manure of April and August is only a very little higher than in February.”
“Before you go any further,” said the Deacon, “answer me this question: Suppose I take five tons of farm-yard manure, and put it in a heap on the 3d of November, tell me, 1st, what that heap will contain when first made; 2d, what the heap will contain April 30th; and, 3d, what the heap will contain August 23d.”
Here is the table:
CONTENTS OF A HEAP OF MANURE AT DIFFERENT PERIODS, EXPOSED TO RAIN, ETC.
Total weight of manure in heap
Water in the heap of manure
Total inorganic matter
Total nitrogen in heap
Total soluble organic matter
Total insoluble organic matter
Soluble mineral matter
Insoluble mineral matter
Nitrogen in soluble matter
Nitrogen in insoluble matter
The Deacon put on his spectacles and studied the above table carefully for some time. “That tells the whole story,” said he, “you put five tons of fresh manure in a heap, it ferments and gets warm, and nearly one ton of water is driven off by the heat.”
“Yes,” said the Doctor, “you see that over half a ton (1,146 lbs.) of dry organic matter has been slowly burnt up in the heap; giving out as much heat as half a ton of coal burnt in a stove. But this is not all. The manure is cooked, and steamed, and softened by the process. The organic matter burnt up is of no value. There is little or no loss of nitrogen. The heap contained 64.3 lbs. of nitrogen when put up, and 63.9 lbs. after fermenting six months. And it is evident that the manure is in a much more active and available condition than if it had been applied to the land in the fresh state. There was 14.9 lbs. of nitrogen in a soluble condition in the fresh manure, and 21.4 lbs. in the fermented manure. And what is equally important, you will notice that there is 154 lbs. of soluble ash in the heap of fresh manure, and 204 lbs. in the heap of fermented manure. In other words, 50 lbs. of the insoluble mineral matter had, by the fermentation of the manure, been rendered soluble, and consequently immediately available as plant-food. This is a very important fact.”
The Doctor is right. There is clearly a great advantage in fermenting manure, provided it is done in such a manner as to preventloss. We have not only less manure to draw out and spread, but the plant-food which it contains, is more soluble and active.
The table we have given shows that there is little or no loss of valuable constituents, even when manure is fermented in the open air and exposed to ordinary rain and snows during an English winter. But it also shows that when the manure has been fermented for six months, and is then turned and left exposed to the rain of spring and summer, the loss is very considerable.
The five tons (10,000 lbs.,) of fresh manure placed in a heap on the 3d of November, are reduced to 7,138 lbs. by the 30th of April. Of this 4,707 lbs. is water. By the 23d of August, the heap is reduced to 7,025 lbs., of which 5,304 lbs. is water. There is nearly 600 lbs. more water in the heap in August than in April.
Of total nitrogen in the heap, there is 64.3 lbs. in the fresh manure, 63.9 lbs. in April, and only 46.3 lbs. in August. This is a great loss, and there is no compensating gain.
We have seen that, when five tons of manure is fermented for six months, in winter, the nitrogen in the soluble organic matter is increased from 14.9 lbs. to 21.4 lbs. This is a decided advantage. But when the manure is kept for another six months, this soluble nitrogen is decreased from 21.4 lbs. to 13.2 lbs. We lose over 8 lbs. of the most active and available nitrogen.
And the same remarks will apply to the valuable soluble mineral matter. In the five tons of fresh manure there is 154 lbs. of soluble mineral matter. By fermenting the heap six months, we get 204 lbs., but by keeping the manure six months longer, the soluble mineral matter is reduced to 138 lbs. We lose 66 lbs. of valuable soluble mineral matter.
By fermenting manure for six months in winter, we greatly improve its condition; by keeping it six months longer, we lose largely of the very best and most active parts of the manure.
Dr. Vœlcker, at the same time he made the experiments alluded to in the preceding chapter, placed another heap of manureunder cover, in a shed. It was the same kind of manure, and was treated precisely as the other—the only difference being that one heap was exposed to the rain, and the other not. The following table gives the results of the weighings of the heap at different times, and also the percentage of loss:
TABLE SHOWING THE ACTUAL WEIGHINGS, AND PERCENTAGE OF LOSS IN WEIGHT, OF EXPERIMENTAL HEAP (NO. II.) FRESH FARM-YARD MANURE UNDER SHED, AT DIFFERENT PERIODS OF THE YEAR.
Put up on the 3d of November, 1854
Weighed on the 30th of April, 1855, or after a lapse of 6 months
Weighed on the 23d of August, 1855, or after a lapse of 9 months and 20 days
Weighed on the 15th of November, 1855, or after a lapse of 12 months and 12 days
It will be seen that 100 tons of manure, kept in a heap under cover for six months, would be reduced to49.6-10tons. Whereas, when the same manure was fermented for the same length of time in the open air, the 100 tons was reduced to only71.4-10tons. The difference is due principally to the fact that the heap exposed contained more water, derived from rain and snow, than the heap kept under cover. This, of course, is what we should expect. Let us look at the results of Dr. Vœlcker’s analyses:
TABLE SHOWING THE COMPOSITION OF EXPERIMENTAL HEAP (NO. II.) FRESH FARMYARD MANURE UNDER SHED, IN NATURAL STATE AT DIFFERENT PERIODS OF THE YEAR.
* Soluble organic matter
Soluble inorganic matter
† Insoluble organic matter
Insoluble mineral matter
* Containing nitrogen
† Containing nitrogen
Total amount of nitrogen
Ammonia in free state
Ammonia in form of salts easily decomposed by quicklime
Total amount of organic matter
Total amount of mineral substance
TABLE SHOWING THE COMPOSITION OF EXPERIMENTAL HEAP (NO. II.) FRESH FARMYARD MANURE UNDER SHED, CALCULATED DRY, AT DIFFERENT PERIODS OF THE YEAR.
* Soluble organic matter
Soluble inorganic matter
† Insoluble organic matter
Insoluble mineral matter
* Containing nitrogen
† Containing nitrogen
Total amount of nitrogen
Ammonia in free state
Ammonia in form of salts, easily decomposed by quicklime
Total amount of organic matter
Total amount of mineral substance
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. Ifthey 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.
Amount of water in the manure
* Consisting of soluble organic matter
* Containing nitrogen
† Containing nitrogen
Total amount of nitrogen in manure
The manure contains ammonia in free state
The manure contains ammonia in form of salts, easily decomposed by quicklime
Total amount of organic matter
Total amount of mineral matter
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.
Total weight of manure in heap
Water in the heap of manure
Total inorganic matter
Total nitrogen in heap
Total soluble organic matter
Insoluble organic matter
Soluble mineral matter
Insoluble mineral matter
Nitrogen in soluble matter
Nitrogen in insoluble matter
Total dry matter in heap
It will be seen that the heap of manure kept under cover contained, on the 30th of April,lesssoluble organic matter,lesssoluble mineral matter,lesssoluble nitrogenous matter, andlesstotal 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 aheapin the open air in the barn-yard, or field.
2d. Keeping it in aheapunder cover in a shed.
3d. Keeping itspread outover 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 inthe 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.