554 



Reading-Course for Farmers. 



VII. To preserve manure 



Probably the least waste in manure is experienced when the manure 

 is spread on the field as rapidly as a wagon load or sleigh load accumu- 

 lates. This in many places is good farm practice and is to be advised 

 when practicable, but, unfortunately, for climatic and other reasons, this 

 practice cannot always be followed. The next best arrangement is a shed 

 to protect the manure pile from the leaching of the rains. If horse 

 manure is placed alone in such a shed the fermentation will be sufficient 

 to cause considerable waste of the nitrogen, unless the manure is watered. 

 Tliis. may be prevented, however, by mixing with cow manure. The writer 

 has had some years' experience with such a shed. When the manure from 



x:" 



^T^ 



Fig. 332. — Covered barnyard recently huilt by Clayton Taylor, Laivton Station, 

 N. Y . Twclve-joot post on one side and cigJit-joot post on the oilier side. 



about a dozen horses and 50 head of cattle was mixed together, while 

 bedding was used rather freely, the tendency was for the pile to be too wet 

 rather than too dry, and artificial watering was never necessary. Some- 

 thing will depend, of course, on the amount of liquid manure collected 

 on the one hand, and the extent of the use of straw or other absorbent 

 on the other hand. 



A shed open to the east or south may answer for shelter for animals 

 during the day. The more the manure is tramped the better it will keep. 



