[134] The urine of the pig, from the nature of its food, is, as a general rule, a very poor nitrogenous manure. [135] See Appendix, Note XV., p. 290. [136] See Appendix, Note III., p. 280. [137] See Appendix, Note XVIII., p. 291. [138] The nitrogen present in the urine, it may be well to point out, is derived from the waste of nitrogenous tissue as well as from nitrogenous matter of the food digested. [139] Note IV., p. 281. [140] Warington puts this matter admirably in the following words: "If the food is nitrogenous and easily digested, the nitrogen in the urine will greatly preponderate. If, on the other hand, the food is one imperfectly digested, the nitrogen in the solid excrement may form the larger quantity. When poor hay is given to horses, the nitrogen in the solid excrement will exceed that contained in the urine. On the other hand, corn, cake, and roots yield a large excess of nitrogen in the urine." ('Chemistry of the Farm,' p. 137). [141] See p. 281. [142] See p. 282. [143] See Heiden's 'Duengerlehre,' vol. ii. p. 58. [144] Heiden's 'Duengerlehre,' vol. i. p. 404. [145] The following quantities of nitrogen are found in rye, pea, and bean straw:-- Ranging from Average Lb. per cent. per cent. per ton. Rye-straw .30 to .73 .57 12.76 Pea-straw .76 to 1.61 1.21 27.10 Bean-straw 1.15 to 2.62 1.92 43.00 [146] Dr J. M. H. Munro recommends the sprinkling of a little finely sifted peat-powder in addition to straw, as an excellent means of preventing loss of volatile ammonia in the fermentation of manure. [147] See 'Mark Lane Express,' October 7, 1889, p. 475. [148] See Appendix, Note VII., p. 283. [149] For analyses see Appendix, Note VIII., p. 283. [150] According to Storer, in a ton of autumn leaves of the best quality there would be 6 lb. of potash, less than 3 lb. of phosphoric acid, and 10 or 15 lb. of nitrogen. Another substance that may be used as a litter is sawdust. This substance is a good absorbent, but is of little value as a manurial substance. [151] Heiden's 'Duengerlehre,' vol. ii. pp. 34, 66. In Boussingault's experiments the food consisted of 15 lb. _hay_, 4.54 lb. _oats_, and 32 lb. water; the total excrements amounting to 31.16 lb., containing 7.42 lb. dry matter. In Hofmeister's experiments the food consisted of 5.23 lb. _hay_, 6.18 lb. _oats_, 1 lb. _chopped straw_, and 25.57 lb. water; the excrements amounting to 25.07 lb., containing 5.32 lb. dry matter. [152] This is taking no account of the amount of water which the manure will absorb, and which will probably double the quantity. [153] See Appendix, Note IX., p. 283. [154] The rapid fermentation of horse-manure is due to its mechanical as well as its chemical nature. The horse does not reduce its food to such small pieces, and its urine is rich in nitrogen.