Covered Ciiftlo-jiards. 93 



A portion loft nninanurod l)aio]v pioducod 10 cwts, por aero. 



Owing to poculiar circumstances, the difference in this case 

 was greater than on an average can be reckoned on ; but this 

 and many other similar comparative instances witliin the range 

 of the writer's experience, clearly prove that the advantage 

 arising from the superiority of the manure made in covered 

 yards is in itself sufficiently important to warrant their very 

 extensive adoption. 



Superior Economy in the Application of Manure. 



Owing to the lesser cjuantity of litter used, the excrements of 

 the cattle bear a greater jn-oportion to the whole mass when 

 manure is made in covered yards, and after lying some little 

 time turns out quite fit for direct application for any description 

 of crop, whereby a very material saving of labour is effected. 

 The quality is still further enhanced, and consccjuently the 

 fjuantity rorpiired is further reduced, by the avoidance of the waste 

 of soluble salts attendant on drainage and leakage after rainfall. 



Assuming 20 tons of ordinary open-yard manure to be a fair 

 dressing per acre, and that lo tons of covered-yard manure would 

 be quite as effective, we in this respect save the cost of the appli- 

 cation of 7 tons per acre, which on an average is certainly not 

 less than 3.9. Qd. And besides, in ordinary practice, the open- 

 yard manure would be carted to the fields to ferment in a heap 

 previous to its application, and the labour involved in refilling, 

 carting, and emptying, may be put as Ad. per ton, or 6a'. 8r/. per 

 acre, showing in the aggregate a saving of 10.9. per acre; and this 

 we believe to be a very moderate calculation. Moreover the 

 straw which is saved in the litter becomes available for food ; 

 and if there is any truth in estimates which set the feeding value 

 of straw at 35.s-., and the manurial value of straw at 12.9. Cul. per 

 ton, the gain in this respect must be considerable. 



Among the advocates for open yards, on the ground of the great 

 facilities they afford for rotting down the straw, was the late Mr. 

 Pusey ; but undoul^tedly his usual sagacity was at fault here. If, 

 as he seems to make out, rain-water is indispensable in the con- 

 version of straw into manure, the rotting process might ])ossibly be 

 effected with more economy by leaving in the fields all the straw 

 not required for the cattle ; its haulage to the yard, and rehaulage, 

 plus 70 per cent, of water, to the field, would at least be saved.* 



* In Mr. Pusey's excellent review of the ' Progress of Agricultural Knowledge 

 during tlie last eight years,' he states tliey "were obliged to use a fire-engine to 

 moisten the latter which was growing white and mouldy for want of moisture." 

 In covered yards no sucli want is ever felt. See Mr. Thompson's explanation, in 

 foregoing paper, of the reason wliy. Mr. Pusey, in the siinic article, states, 

 " When it rains here in winter our labourers say, ' This is fine weather for 

 making dung.' " 



