648 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



No. II 



Durinflf the violent fermentation wliic.h is neces- 

 sary for reducinj^ larm-yard manure to the state in 

 which it is called short muck, not only a large 

 quantity of fluid, but likewise of tjaseous matter, 

 is lost; so much so, that the dung is reduced one- 

 half, or two-thirds in weight; and the principal 

 elastic matter disengaged is carbonic acid, with 

 some ammonia; and both these, if retained by 

 the moisture m the soil, as has been stated before, 

 are capable of becoming a useful nourishment of 

 plants. 



In October, 1808, I filled a larire retort, capable 

 of containing three pints of water, with some hot 

 fermenting manure, consisting principally of the 

 litter and dung of cattle ; I adapted a small re- 

 ceiver to the retort, and connected the whole with 

 a mercurial pneumatic apparatus, so as to collect 

 the condensible and elastic fluids which might rise 

 fi-om the dung. The receiver soon became lined 

 with dew, and drops began in a few hours to trickle 

 down the sides of it. Elastic fluid likewise was 

 generated ; in three days 35 cubical inches had 

 been formed, which, when analyzed, were found 

 to contain 21 cubical inches of carbonic acid ; the 

 remainder was hydrocarbonate mixed with some 

 azote, probably no more than existed in the com- 

 mon air in the receiver. The fluid matter col- 

 lected in the receiver at the same time amounted 

 to nearly half an ounce. It had a saline taste, 

 and a disagreeable smell, and contained some 

 acetate and carbonate of ammonia. 



Finding such products given off from ferment- 

 ing litter, I introduced the beak of another retort, 

 filled with similar dung very hot at the time, into 

 the soil amongst the roots of some grass in the 

 border of a garden ; in less than a week a very 

 distinct efliect was produced on the grass ; upon 

 the spot exposed to the influence of the matter 

 disengaged in fermentation, it grew with much 

 more luxuriance than the grass in any other part 

 of the garden. 



Besides the dissipation of gaseous matter when 

 fermentation is pushed to the extreme, there is 

 another disadvantase in the loss of heat, which, 

 if excited in the soil, is useful in promoting the 

 germinalion of the seed, and in assisting the plant 

 in the first stage of its growth, when it is most 

 feeble and most liable to disease : and the fermen- 

 tation of manure in the soil must be particularly 

 favorable to the wheat crop in preserving a genial 

 temperature beneath the surface laie in autumn, 

 and during winter. 



Again, it is a general principle in chemistry, 

 that in all cases of decomposition, substances com- 

 bine much more readily at the moment of their 

 disengagement, than after they have been per- 

 fectly formed. And in fermentation beneath the 

 soil, the fluid matter produced is applied instantly, 

 even whilst it is warm, to the organs of the plant, 

 and consequently, is more likely to be efHcient 

 than in manure that has gone through the pro- 

 cess, and of which all the principles have entered 

 into new combinations. 



In the writings of scientific agriculturists, a 

 great mass of facts may be found in favor of the 

 application of farm-yard dung in a recent state. 

 Mr. Young, in the essay on manures, which I 

 have already quoted, adduces a number of excel- 

 lent authorities in support of the plan. Many 

 who doubted have been lately convinced ; anil 

 perhaps there is no subject of investigation in 



which there is such a union of theoretical and 

 practical evidence. I have myself within the last 

 ten years witnessed a number of distinct proofs on 

 the subject. I shall content myself with quoting' 

 that which ought to have, and which I am sure 

 will have, the greatest weight amonc agricultur- 

 ists. Within the last seven years, Mr. Coke has 

 entirely cjiven up the system formerly adopted on 

 his farm, of applyinir fermented dung ; and he in- 

 forms me that his crops have been since as good 

 as they ever were, and that his manure goes 

 nearly twice as far. 



A great objection against slightly fermented 

 dune, is, that weeds spring up more luxuriantly 

 where it is applied. If there are seeds carried out 

 in the duns, they certainly will germinate ; but it 

 is seldom that this can be the case to any extent ', 

 and if the land is not cleansed of weeds, any kind 

 of manure fermented or unfermented will occasion 

 their rapid irrowth. If slightly fermented farm- 

 yard dunsr 15= used as a top-dressing for pastures, 

 the long straws and unfermented vegetable mat- 

 ter remaining on the surflice should be removed as 

 soon as the grass begins to rise vifjorously by 

 rakinc, and carried back to the dunL'hill : in this 

 case no manure will be lost, and the husbandry 

 will be at once clean and economical. 



In cases when farm-yard dung cannot be imme- 

 diately applied to crops, the destructive fermenta- 

 tion of it should be prevented as much as possible r 

 the principles on which this may be efTected have 

 been already alluded to. 



The surface should be defended as much as 

 possible from the oxygen of the atmosphere ; a 

 compact marl, or a tenacious clay, offers the best 

 protection against the air ; and before the dung is 

 covered over, or, as it were, sealed up, it should 

 be dried as much as possible. If the dunsc is 

 found at any time to heat stronsrly, it should be 

 turned over, and cooled by exposure to air. 



Waterinor dunghills is sometimes recommended 

 for checking the progress of fermentation ; but 

 th's practice is inconsistent with just chemical 

 views. It may cool the dung for a short time ; 

 but moisture, as I have before stated, is a princi- 

 pal awent in all processes of decomposition. Dry 

 fibrous matter will never ferment. Water is as 

 necessary as air to the process ; and to supply it to 

 fermenting dung, is to supply an agent which will 

 hasten its decay. 



In all cases when dung is fermenting", there are 

 simple tests by which the rapidity of the process, 

 and consequently the injury done, may be discc- 

 vered. 



If a thermometer plunged into the dung does 

 not rise to above 100 degrees of Fahrenheit, there 

 is little danger of much aeriform matter flyinsj off. 

 If the temperature is higher, the dung should be 

 immediately spread abroad. 



When a piece of paper, moistened in muriatic 

 acid, held over the steams arising from a dung- 

 hill, gives dense fumes, it is a certain test that the 

 decomposition is going too far ; for this indicates 

 that volatile alkali is disengaged. 



When dung is to be preserved for any time, the 

 situation in which it is kept is of^ importance. It 

 should, if possible, be defended from the sun. To 

 preserve it under sheds would be of great use ; or 

 to make the site of a dunghill on the north side of 

 a wall. The floor on which the dung is heaped 

 should, if possible, be paved with flat stones ; and 



