i8o4' Thoughts on tho Mancigement ojDung, 41J 



the refiilts, feel myfelf juftiflcd in recommending the above 

 mode of management. Peihnps this difference of fentiment may 

 arife from not attending to tlie very different qualities of dung on 

 different farms ; for I have already fully recognized the propriety 

 of abilaining from putting horfes and carts upon fuch licaps or 

 piles, containing materials wliich can be called dung, even tho' 

 it may be in an unripe Itate. I contend, however, that no in- 

 jury is fuftained from llightly comprefling a mafs of rough mate- 

 rials, nay, that fuch is attended v^'ith beneficial effc6ts ; for, if 

 the materials were laid up with a fork, or a grape, as is recom^ 

 mended in the cafe of turnip or half rotten dung, the fmall por- 

 tion of moiilure therein contained, would fpeedily be walled or 

 evaporated, a circumitance which I have repeatedly witneffed, 

 efpecially when dry weather fucceeded the period when the heap 

 was made up* Befides, driving a one-horie cart over a furface 

 of materials only one It age removed from the condition of dry 

 llraw, will never prevent fermentation. If left in the fold- 

 yard, I grant that the conllant treading of the cattle therein con- 

 fined, and the daily increafed weight of the heap would undoubt- 

 edly produce that evil ; but fuch is effectually prevented, by 

 frequent removals, efpecially if rainy weather prevails at the 

 time. Few objects deferve to be more fedulouily attended to by 

 every farmer who ftudics his own interelt. 



The heap or pile, as already recommended, in the cafe cf 

 turnip dung, fbould be form.ed in a fecluded fpot, if fuch can be 

 got at hand ; becaufe, the lefs it is expofed to the influence of 

 the fun and wind, fo much faller will fermentation proceed. It 

 fhould be conitru6led on a broad balis, whicli leffens the bounds 

 of the extremities ; and feveral feparate heaps are neceffary, fo 

 as too much may not be depolited at once, which, to a certain 

 extent, would bring on the very evil 1 have all along been en- 

 deavouring to avert. By Ihifting the fcene frequently, and al- 

 lowing each covering or coat to fettle and ferment, before laying 

 on any more, the moif happy effects will follow, and tliefe heaps 

 (I mean all fuch as are completed before the firfi of ^lay) may 

 reafonably be expe6led to be in a fit condition for applying to the 

 fummer fallow fields, in the end of July, or fiift of Augud. If 

 the external parts get dry at any time during the procefs, it is 

 proper to water them thoroughly, and in many cafes to turn over 

 the heap completely. I may add, that I havx repeatedly expe- 

 rienced great advantage from laying a thick coating of fnow up- 

 on fuch heaps, as, by the gradual melting thereof, the whole 

 moifture is abforbed, and a firong fermentation immediately 

 follows. 



1 would continue the fame method of management daring thj 

 fummer months, fo far as circumUances peniiittec, though it 



I a rely 



