The following table shows the weight and composition of the entire heap of manure, kept under cover, at different times: Table Showing Composition of Entire Experimental Heap (No. II.) Fresh Farm-Yard Manure, Under Shed. -------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+-------- |When put |April 30,|Aug. 23, |Nov. 15, |up, Nov. |1855. |1855. |1855. |3, 1854. | | | -------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+-------- | lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs. Weight of manure | 3,258. |1,613. |1,297. |1,235. +---------+---------+---------+-------- Amount of water in the manure | 2,156. | 917.6 | 563.2 | 514.5 Amount of dry matter | 1,102. | 695.4 | 733.8 | 720.5 * Consisting of soluble | | | | organic matter | 80.77| 74.68 | 53.56 | 66.28 Soluble mineral matter | 50.14| 54.51 | 39.55 | 54.68 † Insoluble organic matter | 839.17| 410.24 | 337.32 | 341.97 Insoluble mineral matter | 131.92| 155.97 | 303.37 | 257.57 +---------+---------+---------+-------- | 1,102. | 695.4 | 733.8 | 720.5 | | | | * Containing nitrogen | 4.85| 4.38 | 3.46 | 5.25 Equal to ammonia | 5.88| 5.33 | 4.20 | 6.37 † Containing nitrogen | 16.08| 14.88 | 13.08 | 13.54 Equal to ammonia | 19.59| 17.46 | 15.88 | 16.44 Total amount of nitrogen | | | | in manure | 20.93| 19.26 | 16.54 | 18.79 Equal to ammonia | 25.40| 22.79 | 20.08 | 22.81 The manure contains ammonia | | | | in free state | 1.10| .88 | .19 | .23 The manure contains ammonia | | | | in form of salts, easily | | | | decomposed by quicklime | 2.86| 1.62 | 1.33 | 1.80 Total amount of organic matter | 919.94| 484.92 | 390.88 | 408.25 Total amount of mineral matter | 182.06| 210.48 | 342.92 | 312.35 -------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+-------- This is the table, as given by Dr. Vœlcker. For the sake of comparison, we will figure out what the changes would be in a heap of five tons (10,000 lbs.) of manure, when fermented under cover, precisely in the same way as we did with the heap fermented in the open air, exposed to the rain. The following is the table: Contents of a Heap Of Manure at Different Periods. Fermented Under Cover.