284 Remarks on the Plan of a Stercoranj. 



imbibes the juices, and impedes their escape ; as well 

 as prevents loss by evaporation. Those who will not 

 erect a proper stercorar}^, should always cover the heap 

 with mould, or earth. To those who adopt the kind of 

 stercorary here recommended, the intermixture of earth, 

 or soil, will be highly beneficial. 



It is questionable, whether very old dung, reduced 

 to its elemcntar}^ basis, corhone, is of any use in vege- 

 tation. By far the greater part "of all dung, consists of 

 this insoluble and indestructible substance. Like coin 

 locked up, till antiquated, it depreciates. Its value de- 

 pends on its currency, and quick circulation.* 



To our farmers in general, a building for a 7mick 

 heap^ appears whimsical and strange. They will find 

 it, however, the sure and all essential means of increas- 

 ing the numbers and sizes of their barns, and all other 

 buildings. They should value it, as the miser does his 

 strong box. They should grasp after and hoard ma- 

 nure, as greedily and anxiously, as he seeks for and 

 accumulates treasure. But fiu" dinerent must be the 

 results of their endea\ours. This hoard of the farmer 

 is not to be locked up uselessly. It must be expended 

 liberally, uithout extravagance, for the benefit of him- 

 self and his countrv. 



* 1 think dungbe^ns to deteriorate, after it is one year old. I have put 

 it on after lying several years, without any perceptible benefit. But the 

 practice of ploughing in hot and fresh dung, has often been to me a sub- 

 ject of regret. It not only produces smutty crops, in parts over stimulat- 

 ed, but cannot be equally spread, or covered. So that much straw and 

 little grain, appear in spots, which often lie down ; and in others, scarcely 

 any advantage is derived. Muck composted, will keep the longest, with- 

 out injury to its fcrtihzing qualities. Bung and ?jiuc>^ in confined places, 

 from which free air and moistui'e are excluded, undergo a degree of 

 combustion ; and become dry-rotten, mouldy and worthless. 



