70 [Senate 



this way the manure collected in the yards during the winter, is re- 

 moved in the spring, and applied to such crops as require it the 

 most; and as no fermentation ensues inordinary cases, until the com- 

 mencement of hot weather, two sources of loss at least are avoided, 

 those of the washing away of the soluble parts, or their being car- 

 ried off in the shape of gas. Where there exists no necessity for re- 

 taining manures for other than spring crops, and where the crops 

 cultivated are such that long manures are suitable for their growth and 

 tillage, this mode of disposing of manures must be considered one 

 of the best that can be adopted. But in many cases the formation 

 of manures in the yards and stables of the farmer is going on the 

 whole year; and preservation in masses, or by being scattered in 

 yards during the hot months, would be to greatly lessen, if not 

 mostly destroy its value. Besides, there are some crops, such as 

 some of the root crops, in the cultivation of which experience has 

 proved fully that rotted or decomposed manure is far preferable to long 

 manure, as much of it is already in a soluble state, and is available 

 to the plants at the time they need hastening the most, which is the 

 period immediately after germination. Where the waste of manure 

 is to be prevented during the summer months, or it is desirable to 

 provide a quantity of fully rotted manure, then the second method 

 should be used; and this indeed, by many excellent farmers, is con- 

 sidered the best in all cases. 



In this method, the practice is to remove the dung from the stables 



and yards at short intervals, and place it in large piles or masses, that 



the proper fermentation may take place previous to its use. 



tion. When a pile of manure is made in this way, the fermenta- 

 tion takes place in the quantities applied, as they are successively de- 

 posited, and therefore does not reach usually that point in which mate- 

 rial loss is sustained. If it is found that the heat is becoming to great, 

 or the fermentation injuriously rapid, so as to cause the escape of 

 ammonia, a layer of earth or sods placed over the pile, wnll retain, 

 by combination, the escaping gases, and thus prevent the loss. It has 

 been found a most excellent plan, one which not only greatly increas- 

 es the quantity of manures made in this way, but adds to its quality, 

 to mino-le with or cover the successive deposits oi' manure with earth 

 from ditches or ponds, peat or muck from swamps, or turf from bogs 

 or plowed lands, as such layers, consisting mostly of vegetable or 

 animal matters, will, by absorbing the drainings of the manure, or 



