Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 256, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1915 — HEN MANURE. [ARTICLE]

HEN MANURE.

A ton of fresh hen manure should contain about 22 pounds of nitrogen, 20 pounds of phosphoric acid and 10 pounds of potash as a general average. When air-dry, hfn manure should contain about 4l) pounds of nitrogen, 40 pounds of phosphoric acid and 20 pounds of potash in the ton. Fresh manure from fattening cattle should contain 15 pounds of nitrogen, pounds of phosphoric acid and 10 pounds of potash per ton, while as a general average, mixed barnyard manure, after exposure to the weather in open yards, is estimated to contain 10 pounds of nitrogen, 6 pounds of phqsphoric acid and 10 pounds of potash to the ton. A ton of dry hen manure is therefore worth approximately as much as four tons of ayerage yard manure. Many persons propose to mix ashes with hen manure, but no material containing lime, in the form in which it Is contained in ashes, should be mixed with moist manure, as the lime will cause the liberation of a considerable part of the nitrogen in the manure, and it will escape as ammonia gas. Ashes and dry hen manure may be mixed immediately before- applying the manure, as the ammonia will mostly be absorbed and held by the soil. The proper material to mix with manure is acid phosphate, as this serves to Bx the ammonia Instead of liberating it and also reenforces the manure with phosphorus, which is the element most needed by most Ohio soils. Acid phosphate, sprinkled over the dropping boards, will reduce'the loss of ammonia and increase the effectiveness of the manure. A mixture of 250 pounds of dry hen manure, 150 pounds of acid phosphate and 100 pounds unleached hardwood ashes will contain practically the same, quantities of ammonia, phosphoric acid and potash as would be carried in 300 pounds of a 2-10-2 fertilizer. Sy using a sand sieve and a wooden pestlle to pulverize the manure such a mixture may be applied with the ‘ordinary fertilizer drill, and if the ashes are not added until within a few days of the application there will be no appreciable loss of ammonia. Coal ashes have practically no fertilizing value, but may sometimes be used with advantage in loosening a compact clay soil, or as a mulch around small fruits in the garden.— Ohio Experiment Station.