POULTRY MANURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 157, 5 July 1935, Page 14

POULTRY MANURE.

The normal droppings of birds fed for laying, contain roughly 1§ per cent of nitrogen, 3 per cent of potash, and 3 per cent of phosphoric acid. As natural farm manure goes it is chemically strong, and it is the fact that it is rarely suitably diluted for dressing that makes it less popular with gardeners than its value merits. *

For gardening, liquid manure 'is probably the most satisfactory manner in which to apply poultry droppings. In this state it "is also invaluable for orchards when the . fruit is swelling. To be used as collected, poultry manure should be mixed thoroughly first with two parts sand and. one of lime, tho latter only immediately before digging

It is only necessary to grow a green crop where poultry have saturated the ground, or to note the improvement in pasture where they arc on range in correct numbers, to realise the value of the mamirc P ..of .dpnicstic birds when it is properly, distributed. Poultry keepers near, the cities find their most likely customers for manure in market gardeners,- but for such use it must be collected iree from the weed seeds present among low quality grain, and packed in dry or almost dry condition. It should never, of course, be dumped where the birds run, since the majority of poultry ailments are carried from one bird to others by contamination through the droppings.