356 Bacteria in Relation to Country Life 



Schneidewind recommends that the manure produced 

 on the farm be kept in pits or cellars, with cemented 

 floors, and that the fresh manure have as a foundation a 

 layer of older manure undergoing active decomposition. 

 In a word, therefore, exclusion of air by composting, a 

 proper proportion of moisture, and a supply of partly 

 rotted manure as a foundation for the fresh manure may 

 enable the farmer to control the decomposition processes, 

 and to accomplish his end with a minimum loss of 

 valuable constituents. 



Such mechanical methods appear to be, at present, 

 more efficient and more economical than the chemical 

 methods already considered. It may be further said 

 in their favor that they do not attempt to eliminate 

 bacterial changes, but, rather, to control them so as 

 to achieve the desired transformation with the least loss 

 of plant-food. 



