70 MANURES. 



valuable than the urine of our domestic animals, and therefore 

 ought to be prevented by all available means from running to 

 waste. 



6. The most effectual means of preventing loss in fertilizing 

 matters, is to cart the manure directly on the field, whenever cir- 

 cumstances allow this to be done. 



T. On all soils with a moderate proportion of clay, no fear need 

 to be entertained of valuable fertilizing substances becoming 

 wasted, if the manure cannot be ploughed in at once. Fresh, and 

 even well-rotten dung, contains very little free ammonia ; and 

 since active fermentation, and with it the further evolution of free 

 ammonia, is stopped by spreading out the manure on the field, val- 

 uable volatile manuring matters cannot escape into the air by 

 adopting this plan. 



As all soils with a moderate proportion of clay, possess in a 

 remarkable degree the power of absorbing and retaining manuring 

 matters, none of the saline and soluble organic constituents are 

 wasted even by a heavy fall of rain. It may, indeed, be ques- 

 tioned, whether it is more advisable to plough in the manure at 

 once, or to let it lie for some time on the surface, and to give the 

 rain full opportunity to wash it into the soil. 



It appears to me a matter of the greatest importance to regulate 

 the application of manure to our fields, so that its constituents may 

 become properly diluted and uniformly distributed amongst a large 

 mass of soil. By ploughing in the manure at once it appears to 

 me this desirable end cannot be reached so perfectly as by aljow- 

 ing the rain to wash in gradually the manure evenly spread on the 

 surface of tlie field. 



By adopting such a course, in case practical experience should 

 confirm my theoretical reasoning, the objection could no longer be 

 maintained that the land is not ready for carting manure upon it. 

 I am mucli inclined to recommend as a general rule : Cart the 

 manure on the field, spread it at once, and wait ior a favorable 

 opportunity to plough it in. In the case of clay soils I have no 

 hesitation to say the manure maybe spread even six months before 

 it is ploughed in, without losing any appreciable quantity of 

 manuring matters. I am perfectly aware, tliat, on stifi" clay-land, 

 farmyard manure, more especially long dung, when ploughed in 

 before the frost sets in, exercises a most beneficial action by keep- 

 ing the soil loose and admitting the free access of frost which pul- 



