42 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



manure, both liquid and solid, and the compost piles from all sources on the farm, be saved, 

 increased, and utilized ? In answering this question, we would say that the first consideration 

 of importance was the proper construction of the barns or sheds, in order that all the 

 manure made could be preserved, instead of allowing all the liquid portion to be wasted, and 

 throwing the solid manure out of the stable windows to lie in piles, exposed to the leaching 

 process of the storms, permitting the rain and eaves droppings to wash out the most valu 

 able inorganic part of it, and the sun to evaporate a large proportion of the nitrogenous 

 elements, as is still too often the practice with the farmers of our country. Barn cellars, 

 when properly constructed, are very convenient receptacles for both solids and liquids, and 

 also furnish protection from exposure to the sun and storms. But whenever used, a sufficient 

 amount of suitable absorbents should be applied to take up all the liquid portions, so that 

 they can be applied to the land as readily and with, as little inconvenience to the farmer as 

 the solid manure. We do not, however, recommend the use of farm cellars for the storage 

 of manure, unless more than the ordinary facilities are employed, in order to carry off the 

 gases that must of necessity arise from the decomposing mass in the cellar to the floor above, 

 where the animals are kept. These must be carried off by a perfect system of ventilation. 

 No animal can be healthy and continue to breathe such atmosphere; and animals thus 

 stabled will be compelled to breathe it unless great care is taken in making provision 

 for thorough ventilation; for, although many absorbents employed will prove to a great 

 extent deodorizers, such as dried muck, loam, etc., they will not generally be used in sufficient 

 quantities to become wholly so. 



Neither do we approve of the practice, followed by some farmers, of keeping pigs in a 

 barn cellar which is used for the storage of manure. The foul, confined air in such a place, 

 almost destitute of sunlight, cannot be otherwise than injurious to the health of the swine. 

 No animal can be healthy, and hence fit to become the food of man, that does not, while 

 living, have a sufficient supply of pure air and sunlight. Otherwise the blood becomes 

 poisoned, the whole animal system diseased, and the meat thus produced will be anything 

 but a wholesome sanitary diet. In order, also, to prevent, as far as possible, the foul air of 

 the manure thus stored below the barn from arising and vitiating the air where the cattle 

 or horses are kept, it should be mixed with a sufficient supply of absorbents in order to pre 

 vent the escape of ammonia and other substances. The barn cellar should also be well ven 

 tilated, while all barns where animals are stabled should be supplied with a sufficient amount 

 of pure air by means of proper ventilation ; that is, the ventilators should be so arranged as 

 to permit the escape of the foul air of the barn and admit the fresh air from without, 

 without producing a draft upon the animals, which latter would be the means of serious 

 trouble among the stock, a draft of air being one of the worst exposures for either man or 

 beast to severe colds, with possibly pneumonia or lung fever, etc., that could be found. We 

 have known valuable animals to have died from such exposure through the thoughtlessness 

 or ignorance of their owners. 



A very important fact for the farmer to have in mind is, that the better the animal is 

 fed, the better will not only be the meat, the milk, butter and cheese, but the better will be the 

 fertilizing properties of the manure furnished by such animals. Excessive and rapid fer 

 mentation should be avoided, as much of the ammonia is often thus wasted. Horse manure 

 is especially liable to ferment or &quot;burn,&quot; as the fermenting process is termed, and is often 

 rendered almost worthless by the loss thus sustained. Many farmers prevent this by mixing 

 it with cow manure, which is colder and less liable to fermentation, thus easily obviating the 

 difficulty. If, however, this is not convenient, owing to the locality of the horse and cow 

 stables, or for any other reason, it is desired to keep them separate, decomposition can be 

 greatly retarded by keeping the manure trodden compactly and saturated with water to keep 

 out the air as far as possible ; thus keeping the temperature low, it can be preserved a long 

 time before fermentation commences. 



