|When put |April 30,|Aug. 23, |Nov. 15,
|up, Nov. |1855. |1855. |1855.
|3, 1854. | | |
-------------------------------+---------+---------+---------+--------
| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs.
Total weight of manure in heap | 10,000 | 4,960 | 4,000 |3,790
Water in the heap of manure | 6,617 | 2,822 | 1,737 |1,579
Total organic matter | 2,824 | 1,490 | 1,205 |1,253
Total inorganic matter | 559 | 646 | 1,057 | 958
Total nitrogen in heap | 64.3| 59 | 50.8| 57.2
Total soluble organic matter | 248 | 230 | 165 | 203.5
Insoluble organic matter | 2,576 | 1,260 | 1,040 |1,049
Soluble mineral matter | 154 | 167 | 122 | 168
Insoluble mineral matter | 405 | 479 | 935 | 790
Nitrogen in soluble matter | 14.9| 13.4| 10.4| 15.9
Nitrogen in insoluble matter | 49.4| 45.6| 40.4| 41.3
Total dry matter in heap | 3,383 | 2,038 | 2,263 |2,211
-------------------------------+---------+---------+------------------

It will be seen that the heap of manure kept under cover contained, on
the 30th of April, _less_ soluble organic matter, _less_ soluble mineral
matter, _less_ soluble nitrogenous matter, and _less_ total nitrogen
than the heap of manure exposed to the weather. This is precisely what I
should have expected. The heap of manure in the shed probably fermented
more rapidly than the heap out of doors, and there was not water enough
in the manure to retain the carbonate of ammonia, or to favor the
production of organic acids. _The heap was too dry._ If it could have
received enough of the liquid from the stables to have kept it
moderately moist, the result would have been very different.

We will postpone further consideration of this point at present,
and look at the results of another of Dr. Voelcker's interesting
experiments.

Dr. Voelcker wished to ascertain the effect of three common methods of
managing manure:

1st. Keeping it in a _heap_ in the open air in the barn-yard, or field.

2d. Keeping it in a _heap_ under cover in a shed.

3d. Keeping it _spread out_ over the barn-yard.

"You say these are common methods of managing manure," remarked the
Deacon, "but I never knew any one in