Covered Cutttc-i/anh 91 



Superiority of the Manure made in Coccred Yards. 



15y I'ar the s^ieatcr jjiopoition of oidinaiy fannyard-inanure 

 consists ol straw and water, the rciiiauider being the excrements 

 of the cattle. Under cover about 20 lbs. of straw per diem is 

 found litter sufficient for one animal ; in open yards, more than 

 twice that quantity is required ; and if, as is generally supposed, 

 the excrements give the tone and character to the manure, it will 

 be readily seen, why that made under cover is normally much 

 superior to that made in the open air. We say " normally," 

 because in the one case the original value is maintained, but in 

 the other k)st by drainage and waste. 



It would be superfluous to dwell on the deteriorating influence 

 exercised by rain-water falling on manure, or the great loss in- 

 curred by exposure to its washings. The curious in this matter 

 will find ample information by referring to the researches of 

 Way, Voelcker, and other modern writers on chemistry ; the 

 practical man, we opine, will be more gratified by a reference to 

 results. From dressings of equal quantities of manure made 

 under the same conditions as to the food and age of the animals, 

 but in one case under cover and in the other in open yards. Lord 

 Kinnaird obtained the following results : * — 



Uncovered Diukj. 



Per Acre. 



1st year. Potatoos 7 tons 12 cwts. 

 2nd year. Wheat 42 bushels. 

 „ Straw do. 15G stones. 



Covered Dung. 



Per Acre. 

 1st year. Potatoes 11 tons 5 cwts. 

 2nd year. AVhcat 5-1 bushels. 

 Straw do. 215 stones. 



Mr. Akers, of Black Bourton, Oxon, in a communication to 

 the writer, says : — 



" You arc aware that I liave at my I'arin an open yard as well as my larvae 

 covered yard, and Avhcn I first used the manure made in the latter I was 

 startled to find my crops for which it had been applied so lodged as to be 

 almost worthless. Since then I have sometimes been at considerable expense 

 to have that made under cover and in the open cither mixed or api)lied con- 

 jointly, so as to insure an eciuable cro]) ; or when the covered-}'ard manure 

 is used separately, the quantity is invariably reduced, so as to guard against 

 my previous misfortime. I usually manage my covered manure so that it 

 will "spit" out with the shovel when required for use, so that 1 have no 

 need to haul it into a field-heap, and I consequently save the usual labour of 

 twice filling, carting, and emptying." 



Mr. J. C. Garth, of Haine's Hill, Berks, in reference to the 

 covered yard of his home-farm, writes : — 



" The manure is first-rate, but as I have not made an actual trial, I cannot 

 decidedly say how much it is better than that made in open yards ; but 

 perhaps one of the principal advantages of covered yards is the great supe- 

 riority of the manure. The cattle should be littered every day, or every 



* Trans. Ilighluiul Agricultural Society. 



