+--------------------------+----------------------------------------------| | | WHEN PUT UP. | | +----------+------------+----------+-----------+ | | Nov. 3d, | April 30th | Aug. 23d | Nov. 15th | | | 1854. | 1855. | 1855. | 1855. | | +----------+------------+----------+-----------+ | Weight of manure in lbs. | 3258 | 1613 | 1297 | 1235 | | +----------+------------+----------+-----------| | Water | 2156.0 | 917.6 | 563.2 | 514.5 | | Dry Matter | 1102.0 | 695.4 | 733.8 | 720.5 | | +----------+------------+----------+-----------| | Consisting of-- | | | | | | Soluble organic matter | 80.77 | 74.68 | 53.56 | 66.28 | | " mineral matter | 50.14 | 54.51 | 39.55 | 54.68 | | Insoluble organic matter | 839.17 | 410.24 | 337.32 | 341.97 | | " mineral matter | 131.92 | 155.97 | 303.37 | 257.57 | | +----------+------------+----------+-----------+ | Total nitrogen | 20.93 | 19.26 | 16.54 | 1.79 | | Equal to ammonia | 25.40 | 23.33 | 20.08 | 2.81 | +--------------------------+----------+------------+----------+-----------+ The loss of nitrogen is here comparatively trifling, and during the whole year, but little exceeds two pounds, of which the greater part escapes during the first six months, and the soluble inorganic matters are almost unchanged. The total weight of the manure, however, undergoes a very great reduction, due chiefly to evaporation of water, but in part also to the loss of organic matters evolved in the form of carbonic acid during fermentation. When the manure is spread out, as it is usually found under cattle in open yards, the deterioration is very great, a quantity thus treated having lost, in the course of a year, nearly two-thirds of its nitrogen, and four-fifths of its soluble inorganic matters.