44 Thoughts Oft the Management of Dung. FeL 



rarely happens that dung colle6led at this advanced period is fit 

 ion ufe in the fame feafon, unlefs it be fuch as is made by 1- cop- 

 ing horfes or cattle m the houfe, upon green, food. Perhaps, as 

 a general principle, it is proper to thrafh out all grain betore 

 fummer arrives, Ca fmall quantity for litter and other puipofes 

 ecccepted) in order that the full value of the raw materials, 

 when converted into manure, may be gained. Straw thralhed in 

 the fummer months, always wants a good deal of its original 

 Arength ; it is brokea and haflied by the mills, therefore a laig.e 

 portion mull at once be thrown to the fold-vard, where its 

 ilrength is iHll more exhaufted and diffipated. Evd when Hacked 

 carefully, it will be found next winter, to pr^ -^uce 'P.ui.h lefs 

 bulk of dung, than if it had been ufed at the proper time: and 

 •jnterefl: of the amount for one year is loft j all wlrich things aJded 

 togetlier, v/ill be found equal to one half of ihe original worth. 



Upon large farms, where the management of manure is fufil- 

 ciently underftood anci pradifed, it is an importaiit matter to 

 I'lave dunghills of all ages,, and ready for ufe whenever the fitua- 

 xion of a field calls for a reftorative. No method of application 

 to clay foils, however, is fo beneficial as during the year of 

 fummer fallow, though, in fuch fituatio'is, a greater flock of 

 •manure is often gathered than is required lor the fields under this 

 procefs. 



After all^ it mud be acknowledged^ tliat, under* everv exer- 

 •tion, it feldom happens that dung on clay farms, where turnips 

 rxve not grown, can be fo well prepared as upon tiiofe employed 

 in the culture of that beneficial root. This has induced many 

 farmers to crofs nature, and attempt t!ie cultivation of tuinips, 

 upon foils phyfically unfit for producing them with advantage.; 

 and perhaps, much money has been loft in carrying fuch fchtmes 

 into execution. I am clear., that a clay land farmer, had better 

 i'ubmit to all the difadvantages accompanying the preparation of 

 manure in his particular ficuatiou, than try to get frte of them 

 bv the culture of turnips. It is alfo a confolatory circnmflance, 

 that clay foils have a good digeftion, tliey are not fo nice in their 

 food as gravels and fands, requiring only a good ,belly-fnll and 

 frequent meals. It likewife deferves attention, that 6ung ap- 

 ])lied to a clay fallow at the end of fummer, has full time to in- 

 /:orporate with the ground, before the crop, fown thereupon, 

 ftands much in want of its invigorating fnpport^ confequently, 

 though of apparent inferior quality at tlie time of ni)plication, 

 may, in rcalitj^ be polTetTed of eqnal powers for fructifying the 

 ground, as if it had reached a higher itate of preparation. 



Allow me to notice the many inftances of flovenly neglect, 

 %vhich 1 have witnefled in our iiftcr kingdom, r^-fpeCling the 

 pianagement of manure, particularly in the mid^land counties, 



where 



