CONTENTS OF A HEAP OF MANURE AT DIFFERENT PERIODS. FERMENTED UNDER COVER.
| When put up, Nov. 3, 1854. | April 30, 1855. | Aug. 23, 1855. | Nov. 15, 1855. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.”