210 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



a sloping heap by itself. The rain more easily runs off 

 such heaps, the gases do not escape to the same extent, 

 fermentation is slower, and the manure so treated is much 

 richer. 



If the manure is very hot when it is delivered, as is 

 frequently the case with stable dung, a weekly turning will 

 not be enough. It may be much improved by the addition 

 of a quarter of its bulk of leaves and should be turned at 

 least twice a week, for the first fortnight. Then once a week 

 for the next fortnight, after that most of the rank heat will 

 have gone off. The outer portions of the heaps will in all 

 cases be poorer than the inner portions, but that cannot be 

 helped. 



In big gardens something more can be done. There may 

 be what is known as a manure yard with a flagged or 

 cemented floor and gutters to carry the drainings into a 

 sunk tub or cemented hole in the ground. The liquid thus 

 collected is periodically pumped up and thrown on to the 

 manure again when it is turned over. The oftener manure 

 heaps are turned over during the first month or so the better, 

 and in all cases they should be built into sloping or conical 

 heaps. 



Besides a manure yard there are sometimes manure 

 sheds. These are ideal arrangements for avoiding waste. 

 They are usually built of brick or stone and roofed over, 

 but open all along one side. They must not, however, 

 be used for very fresh manure, or it will become too hot, 

 much of its goodness will be wasted. The manures should 

 be well turned several times, and then stacked in the sheds, 

 where rain and sunshine will, for the most part, be kept 

 off them. Usually such sheds have gutters draining into 

 a sunk barrel, the liquid being pumped up and mixed 

 with vegetable refuse. 



Another method of preventing waste of manure is to dig 

 a deep pit in the ground and have the sides bricked up. A 

 pit to hold 3 tons of manure is convenient. This must 

 be 6-8 ft. deep and the size of an ordinary three-light frame. 

 Its top should be nearly covered with corrugated iron 



