“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 up, Nov. 3, 1854. | April 30, 1855. | Aug. 23, 1855. | Nov. 15, 1855. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.