ORGANIC MANURES. 63 



it has been found, that in six weeks, cow's urine will lose 

 nearly one-half of its solid matter or salts, and ^ of its 

 ammonia ; while that which had been mixed with an equal 

 quantity of water, lost only A of the former, and -J 

 of the latter. The stables and troughs leading to the tank, 

 should be frequently washed down and sprinkled with 

 gypsum. This last will absorb much of the ammonia, which 

 would otherwise escape. Some loss of the volatile matter 

 must be expected, and the sooner it is used after proper fer- 

 mentation or ripeness, as it is termed, the greater will be the 

 economy. 



Liquid Manure applied to the Muck Heap. As a gene- 

 ral rule, it is more economical and a great saving of labor, 

 to keep the urine above ground, and mix it at once with the 

 manure ; but in this case vegetable or earthy absorbents 

 must be adequately supplied ; and in addition, the heap ought 

 frequently to be sprinkled with gypsum or charcoal. Rich 

 turf, the wash of the road-side, tan bark or saw-dust, and all 

 refuse vegetables may be used for this purpose, being so 

 placed that the liquid can run on to them, or be deposited 

 where it can be poured over the heap. The same protec- 

 tion, of a rough, open shed, should be given to this, as to the 

 other heaps, to facilitate evaporation and prevent drenching 

 from rains. When fully saturated with the urinary salts, and 

 all is properly decomposed, it may be carried out for use, 

 or closely covered with earth till wanted. The decomposi- 

 tion is in a great measure arrested, by covering with com- 

 pact earth, thoroughly trodden together ; this prevents the 

 access of air, which is essential to its progress. 



A simple yet economical mode of saving the liquid manure, 

 is sometimes adopted in Scotland, and is thus detailed: 



" We divide a shed into two compartments ; one of which 

 we make water-tight, by puddling the side walls with clay 

 to the height of two feet, and separated from the other 

 compartment by a low, water-tight wall or boarding. This 

 is the fermenting tank, which is filled half or three-fourths 

 full of pulverized burnt peat, and the liquid manure from the 

 stables and pig-styes, directed into it. This is mixed up 

 with the pulverized peat, and allowed to remain three or 

 four weeks, till the decomposition seems about completed, 

 being occasionally stirred after the composition has become 

 about the consistency of gruel. The whole is then ladled 

 with a pole and bucket, over the low partition into the se- 

 cond floor, which is also three parts filled with the carbon- 



