314 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



the surface inclined and the manure half rotted or more, the 

 loss will be considerable. The nitrate-destroying bacteria 

 are of several species, and have thus far been found in straw 

 and various other litter, in soils and in the dung of herbivo- 

 rous animals. They have not been found in human excre- 

 ment or that of the carnivora or birds. 



When barnyard manures are made with bedding devoid of 

 much decomposable organic matter, the nitrate-destroying 

 bacteria cannot work in them, for they cannot obtain the 

 soluble organic food necessary for their sustenance. Any- 

 thing like sand, loam or turf, therefore, may be used for 

 bedding without incurring the disadvantage due to straw 

 litters. 



Wherever much nitrate of soda is applied to crops, there 

 is produced a relatively large yield of straw, which in turn 

 leads to a large use of this material as litter. This excessive 

 quantity of straw in the manure materially lessens its value 

 in the manner described. 



Manure is brought from the storage to its place in the field 

 by four diflferent methods : — 



1. It is unloaded in the field into large heaps, and, after 

 remaining there a convenient time, is spread over the land 

 and plowed in. 



2. It is distributed in small heaps, and then treated as 

 before. 



3. It is spread evenly over the land, and allowed to lie a 

 long time. 



4. It is evenly spread and immediately plowed under. 

 Unquestionably the last method is the best of all, the first 



is the second best and the third is the poorest way of all. 

 The reasons for this are very apparent, when it is remem- 

 bered that the half rotted manure should be placed at the 

 disposition of the growing plant at the earliest moment, with 

 the least possible opportunity of loss by evaporation or 

 drainage. It should be evenly distributed over the land. 

 This is impossible to attain, when it is first deposited in 

 heaps and allowed to drain into the patches of soil under the 

 heaps before being spread. 



As to the amount of barnyard manure to be applied to the 

 land for various purposes, a general rule may be mentioned 



