“And now, Deacon,” I continued, “while you have a pencil in your hand, I want you to make one more calculation. Assuming that Mr. Lawes’ estimate is too high, and we reduce it one-half, figure up what manure is worth when made from straw alone. You take 4 tons of wheat straw, feed out part, and use part for bedding. It will give you about 10 tons of manure. And this 10 tons cost you 50 cents a ton to load, draw out, and spread. Now figure:
“Four tons of straw is worth, for manure, according to Mr. Lawes’ table, $2.68 per ton. We have agreed to reduce the figures one half, and so the
| 10 tons of manure from the 4 tons of straw is worth | $5.36 |
| Drawing out 10 tons of manure at 50 cents | 5.00 |
| Value of 10 tons of straw-manure in yard | $0.36 |
“In other words, if John Johnston’s manure is worth only $1.23 per ton in the yard, the straw-made manure is worth only a little over 3½ cents a ton in the yard.”
“That is too absurd,” said the Deacon.
“Very well,” I replied, “for once I am glad to agree with you. But if this is absurd, then it follows that Mr. Lawes’ estimate of the value of certain foods for manure is not so extravagant as you supposed—which is precisely what I wished to prove.”
“You have not told us how Mr. Johnston manages his manure,” said the Deacon.
“There is nothing very remarkable about it,” I replied. “There are many farmers in this neighborhood who adopt the same method. I think, however, John Johnston was the first to recommend it, and subjected himself to some criticism from some of the so-called scientific writers at the time.
“His general plan is to leave the manure in the yards, basements, and sheds, under the sheep, until spring. He usually sells his fat sheep in March. As soon as the sheep are removed, the manure is either thrown up into loose heaps in the yard, or drawn directly to the field, where it is to be used, and made into a heap there. The manure is not spread on the land until the autumn. It remains in the heaps or piles all summer, being usually turned once, and sometimes twice. The manure becomes thoroughly rotted.”