THE MAKING OF FAKM-YARD MANURE. 479 



mixing of the various kinds of dung is most advisable ; and if made into* 

 heaps and turned, that every means should be used to prevent the escape- 

 of nitrogen. 



MANAGEMENT OF FARMYARD MANURE. Air and moisture are both es- 

 ritial to the proper fermentation of manure. If it is too dry, it burns, 

 gets " fire-fanged," white and mildewed ; and the high temperature of the 

 manure promotes the formation of carbonate of ammonia, which is volatile 

 and easily escapes into the air. This occurs when the temperature exceeds- 

 eighty degrees F. But when the manure is kept moist and the tempera- 

 ture low, fermentation stops with the formation of organic acids which 

 take up ammonia. The salts thus formed are present in the black decom- 

 d dung, and the ammonia in them is in a soluble form, but not vola- 

 tile. A strong smell arising from the manure makes it evident that a 

 wasteful fermentation is going on, but this fermentation is easily con- 

 trolled. A quick fermentation will be induced by placing the manure 

 lightly in heaps so as to allow the air to get at it ; a slower fermentation, 

 by treading the manure down firmly, and a cool fermentation by keeping 

 the heap moderately moist. Liquid manure should be used either when 

 it is necessary to moisten the heap, so as to check excessive fermentation, 

 or, unless it be very dilute just before hauling to the field. 



Gypsum, as in the regular practice of the Ontario Experimental Farm, 

 Ided to the manure heap with the view of fixing the ammonia ; but 

 where the management of the manure is otherwise good, this is not abso- 

 lutely required. Chalk and lime are found to have a very good effect in 

 preventing escape of ammonia from farmyard manure, provided it is// 

 manure. Applied to rotten manure, caustic lime causes a great loss of 

 ammonia. 



As far as possible the formation of field manure-heaps is to be avoule<l 

 it is best in every sense to haul the manure direct from the yards upon 

 the land and spread it at once. The question of immediate plough in^ in 



overing it, is of less consequence than has generally been imagin 

 I -lit on light soils the practice of immediate ploughing under is advisable 



