78 PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



if the heap is kept wet enough to prevent heating, and kept 

 dry enough to prevent water from passing through it. 



Under the average conditions where manure is allowed 

 to stand in the barnyard for three months or more, the loss 

 is from one-third to one-half of the plant-food in it (Fig. 44). 



Care of Manures. — A good way to save manure is to 

 store it under cover — sheltered from rain and direct sunshine. 



There is less heating of manure when it is packed very 

 hard, because the air is kept away. One plan of keeping 

 it well packed is to have a shed or covered barnyard with a 



Fig. 44. — A poor way to store barnyard manure, even when the ground is level. 

 The barn is badly rotted by this method. (Animal Industry.) 



cement floor, on which the manure from the barn is spread 

 daily. Stock are allowed to tramp this down all winter, and 

 it is hauled to the fields in the spring. 



Spreading Directly on Fields. — Barnyard manure is used 

 to the best advantage when it is spread directly on the fields 

 regularly, every day or every week. In northern and central 

 states where many animals are stabled during the winter, 

 a large amount of manure is allowed to pile up about the 

 buildings and waste rapidly. It should be spread on the fields, 

 where it is to be used, as fast as it is made. (Figs. 45 and 46). 



