62 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



tractable vegetables, as broom and other corn-stalks, or such 

 as have seeds that ought to be destroyed, they may be well 

 moistened and thrown together in layers, three or four inches 

 thick ; and on each may be strewn a liberal coating of fresh, 

 unslacked lime, reduced to powder. This promotes decompo- 

 sition, and when it is far enough advanced, the whole may 

 be sparingly added to the general mass, as the lime will by 

 that time have become mild. When remote from the cattle 

 yard, these coarse materials may be at once burned, and the 

 ashes added to the soil ; or they may be buried in furrows, 

 where the ground will not be disturbed till they are entirely 

 rotted. 



When thoroughly decomposed, the manure heap will have 

 lost half its original weight, most of which has escaped as 

 water and carbonic acid. It may then be carted on to the 

 ground, and at once incorporated with it ; or if intended for 

 a top dressing, it should be scattered over it, immediately 

 before or during wet weather For the protection of the 

 manure, it would be well to cover it with a roof, and convey 

 off all the water from the eaves. This will prevent any 

 waste of the soluble portions and promote the escape of mois- 

 ture, by the free circulation of air, which to the extent of this 

 evaporation, will lessen the labor of hauling. 



Tanks for holding Liquid Manure have long been in 

 use. They should be convenient to the stalls and yards, and 

 with tight drains, convey into them every particle of the 

 urine and drainage from the manure. In compact clay, they 

 may be made by simply excavating the earth, and the sides 

 can be kept from falling in, by a rough wall, or by planks sup- 

 ported in an upright position, by a frame-work of joice. But 

 in all cases, the cisterns should be closely covered, to prevent 

 the escape of the ammonia, which is developed while fer- 

 menting. In porous soils, it is necessary to construct them 

 with stone or brick, laid in water-lime or cement. 



When partially filled, fermentation will soon take place in 

 the tank, and especially in warm weather ; gypsum or char- 

 coal should then be thrown in to absorb the ammonia. A 

 few days after decomposition commences, it should be pumped 

 into casks and carried upon the land. If intended for water- 

 ing plants, it must be diluted sufficiently to prevent injury 

 to them. The quintity of water required, will depend on 

 the strength of the liquid, and the time it is applied ; much 

 less water being necessary to dilute it in a wet, than 

 in a dry time. By fermenting in the open air and undiluted, 



