itrogen_,
_phosphoric acid_, and _alkalies_:--

-----------------------+----------+-------------+-------------+-----------
| | | PHOSPHORIC |
| | NITROGEN. | ACID. | ALKALIES.
| WATER. |-----+-------+-----+-------+---+-------
| | |Reduced| |Reduced| |Reduced
| | | to | | to | | to
-----------------------+----+-----+-----+-------+-----+-------+---+-------
|lb. | per | lb. | per | lb. | per |lb.| per
| |cent.| | cent. | | cent. | | cent.
Horses (winter food) |760 |76 |5 | .50 |3-1/2| .35 | 3 | .30
Cows (winter food) |840 |84 |3 | .30 |2-1/2| .25 | 1 | .10
Swine (winter food) |800 |80 |6 | .60 |4-1/2| .45 | 5 | .50
Sheep (2 lb. hay per | | | | | | | |
diem) |580 |58 |7-1/2| .75 |6 | .6 | 3 | .30
-----------------------+----+-----+-----+-------+-----+-------+---+-------

From the above table it will be seen that the sheep's dung contains the
least percentage of _water_, and is richer in _nitrogen_ and _phosphoric
acid_ than any of the other three. The percentage of alkalies, of which
the most important is potash, is, however, not so large. This may be
accounted for by the interesting and well-known fact that a large
percentage of potash is to be found in the wool of sheep.[132]

The solid excrement of the sheep is, therefore, weight for weight, the
most valuable as a manure, as it contains more nitrogen and phosphates
than the others, and at the same time is much drier.

If, however, we compare the composition of the solid excreta in a dry
state, we shall find that the following are the results (basing our
calculation on Stoeckhardt's analyses):--

Nitrogen, Phosphoric acid, Alkalies,
per cent. per cent. per cent.

Horse 2.08 1.45 1.25
Cow 1.87 1.56 0.62
Pig 3.00 2.25 2.50
Sheep 1.78 1.42 0.71

It will be seen from the above that the dry substance of the solid
excreta of the pig is richest in fertilising substances. Too much
stress, however, as has already been pointed out, must not be put on any
single analysis, as