GOOD HUSBANDRY. 75 



other important things connected with farming. Is there no way to pre- 

 vent in part, at least, this loss which a large percentage of our farmers 

 are sustaining ? It is true, we are not able to construct expensive barn 

 cellars to receive the solids, and tanks for the liquids of farm stock ; 

 we are not able to adopt all the modern methods and improvements 

 to prevent losses in manures, which are observable about the barns 

 of the wealthv farmer; but we are not left entirelv ''out in the 

 cold," at least, we are not without a partial remedv. 



Now, I can imagine I hear someone say, this all sounds very well 

 on paper, Mr. Murch, but where is the remedy for a poor farmer 

 like me, who, with the best he can do, can scarceh' get money enough 

 together to pa}' his tax, and buy shoes for the children. My build- 

 ings are on descending ground. I cannot control the operations of 

 nature ; the rain will come down, I can't help it ; and it will run 

 down hill, too ; it is not only stubborn against running up hill, but 

 it won't remain where it falls. It is bound to go down hill to the 

 brook, and if it carries along the soakings of the barnyard, how can , 

 I help it? 



Well, sir, I am very glad you asked this question, and though I. 

 ma}' not be able to answer you so fully and satisfactorily as might be 

 wished, yet I will give you the partial remedy I was about to speak, 

 of before. 



At a small outlay in labor, with no cash expense at all, a reservoir" 

 may be sunk at the lower extremity of the barnyard, or better per-- 

 haps, just outside the yard, or in any convenient place in close prox- 

 imity to the yard and dung-piles, where it will receive the drainage. 

 The sides may be lined with plank ; or what is better, sided timber 

 may be used instead, and made as nearly water-tight as possible. 

 The size may vary to meet requirements. In most cases, if so con- 

 structed as to be eight feet in length inside, with a width of six feet, 

 and a depth of four, it will be found to be of good and convenient 

 size. This tank, which contains one cord and a half, may be filled 

 with muck, sods and loam ; or, in the absence of anv thing better, 

 sawdust will be found to answer a very good purpose. 



The dark, rich liquid from the dung-piles flows into the tank, and 

 percolates the entire mass, and imparts to it so much fertilizing ma- 

 terial that in a short time, the contents, bulk for bulk, are almost 

 if not quite as valuable as the manure pile itself. If the reservoir 

 be cleaned out twice a year, spring and fall, there will be ten or 



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