THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



407 



THE MANURE OF THE FARM-YARD AND OF THE HOUSE-DRAIN. 



BY CUTHBEKT W. JOHXSON, ESQ., F.E.S. 



Of the importance of applying organic manures 

 in the most economical form, no one need be in- 

 formed ; nor do any of my readers require any 

 arjfument to convince them that the value of the 

 farm-yard and other orjranic manures far exceeds 

 that of all the artificial fertilizers hitherto so skilfully 

 prepared for the farmer's aid. 



The production of these manures, and their eco- 

 nomical application in either their solid or liquid 

 state, are still susceptible of general improvement. 

 It is true that great advances htive been making, 

 for many years, in this important inquiry, but still 

 there are several indications that there is more yet 

 to be done in this way — not only in the use of 

 solid organic manure, but also in its liquid or semi- 

 fluid state. At this season of the year, we may 

 usefully spend an hour in dwelling upon this im- 

 portant branch of the economy of the farm. 



The most beneficial degree of moisture in which 

 farm-yard dung may be applied, and the best use 

 of its drainage-water, is hardly yet determined. 

 To this practical question, Professor Tanner, in 

 his prize-essay on the application of the manure of 

 the farm, has addressed himself (" Jour. Roy. Ag. 

 See," vol. xxi. p. 347). As he observes, under 

 certain circumstances, it does not appear advis- 

 able to carry out the box or pit system ; and thus 

 by the adoption of stalls, &c., we have the natural 

 separation of the solid and liquid excrements to a 

 great extent maintained. The former is generally 

 removed to the manure-pit, whilst the latter runs 

 away to the tank. The best mode of using this 

 liquid manure is a disputed point; but various 

 reasons induce me to think that we cannot do better 

 than employ it in conjunction with the solid matter 

 from which it had been separated. The solid ma- 

 nure, on being removed from the animal, soon un- 

 dergoes a fermentation, that it may again assume 

 a form adapted to the support of vegetable life. 

 Tbe value of the product depends on this process 

 being duly regulated ; and the presence of moisture 

 is indispensable for preventing a too rapid or 

 violent action. To this end, what liquid can be as 

 beneficially applied as that which will restore those 

 elements of fertUity which have passed away from 

 it into the urine, at the same time that it checks 

 undue heating ? By the aid of a pump and hose, 

 the tank-water can be easily distributed over the 

 fermenting manure, which should be moderately 

 compressed, but not so tightly as to prevent the 

 passage of the liquid through its mass. Many 

 manure-pits are constructed so that they may drain 

 into the tank. This is a good plan ; for it enables 

 the liquid to be freely used, without fear of adding 

 too much to the heap. I am a decided advocate 

 for the use of the liquid-manure with the dung of 

 the farm, for I believe that, in their combined use, 

 both act with increased advantage. 



The adoption of this mode of using the liquid- 



manure will, under a careful course of management, 

 remove the necessity for further question as to the 

 use of this fertilizer; but for those cases in which 

 it is allowed to become intermixed with other water, 

 or in which it is wished to ajjply it to the land in 

 a separate condition, further comment is neces- 

 sary. We have been gradually brought to the con- 

 clusion, adds Mr. Tanner, that although liquid- 

 manure does possess valua])le fertdizing powers, 

 yet these generally exist in such a diffused state 

 that the cost of application exceeds its value, and 

 hence it is a very generally accepted rule that the 

 distribution must beaccomjilishcd by its own power 

 of gravitation, or under some cheaj) pressure. 



The relative value of the liquid portion of the 

 farm-yard manure made with sheep and by beasts 

 does not, ])erhaps, under similar circumstances, 

 materially differ.' Some little time since, the urine 

 of different domestic anim.als was examined, and 

 the results obtained wee as follows : 10,000 parts 

 of each were found to contain of water and of solid 

 matters — 



Water. Solid Matter. 



Of the sheep 9,600 400 



horse 9,400 600 



„ cow 9,300 700 



„ pig 9,260 740 



These are material questions to consider, when we 

 are contemplating the use of sheep, as farm-yard 

 manure-makers, instead of beasts. A very recent 

 and important discussion of the Central Farmers' 

 Club on that suljject well deserves the attention of 

 the practical farmer. The following brief sum- 

 mary of Mr. Gilson Martin, a Lincolnshire farmer, 

 read by Mr. Ruston to the members, puis the case 

 in a very useful form — 



" The summary of my experience of the system 

 is this : sheep in yards make more manure than 

 beasts, with a less outlay of capital and with more 

 profit. I scarcely ever got a profit, often a heavy 

 loss, on the wintering of store beasts. I never had 

 a loss on the wintering of sheep in yards. My im- 

 pression is, that five sheep (six undoubtedly) make 

 as much manure as one beast. I find sheep manure 

 more quickly and more thoroughly rots, and be- 

 comes fit for the land. I have never tested their 

 relative value side by side, but I have had no occa- 

 sion to note any deficiency in the effects of sheep 

 manure on any crop to which I have applied it. 

 There is one other subject in connexion with the 

 feeding of bullocks and sheep which is worthy our 

 attention and our study. I refer to the quantity 

 of food consumed by each animal respectively, and 

 the quantity of ilesh formed by the consumption 

 of such food, or, rather, the increase of weight at- 

 tained. Fattening oxen fed liberally upon good 

 food— composed of a moderate proportion of com 

 or cake, some hay or straw-chaff, with roots— will 



