Management of the Dung Heap 



system lies in the formation of a regular heap well 

 compressed. The second lies in covering the heap 

 with earth, as it is formed. Then comes a platform 

 for the manure with a pit for the liquid manure. 

 Or the manure may be covered in. This is a notable 

 improvement ; but the best way of all of making and 

 keeping is in a close-covered place close to the pit of 

 liquid manure. Here no desiccation by the wind 

 even laterally can take place ; no violent continual 

 evaporation caused by the displacement of the air, 

 no loss of fertilising matter in the sewer. On the 

 contrary, there will be a regular formation of manure 

 well compressed throughout the mass, without white 

 anaerobic moulds, but formed of brown humus in the 

 presence of moisture and conserving the whole of the 

 liquid manure. Such an arrangement ought to be 

 found on every farm, and the first step every farmer 

 ought to take is the construction of a water-tight 

 manure pit, under a roof. This is the sort of thing 

 that pays, paying immediately, and will have con- 

 tinuous beneficial effect on the farm. 



On ordinary farms the general way is to mix the 

 various manures to get an average dressing which 

 can be used all round. No special manure is put 

 aside except for some definite purpose. 



The value of manure therefore will vary con- 

 siderably according to the various factors which may 

 influence it. The greatest difference in its value 

 arises from the way in which it is prepared. Thus 

 a manure carefully made in a shed, well compressed 

 and watered regularly with liquid manure, will be 

 worth say los. per ton. If so, the same manure 

 made outside but roofed over will be worth from 



97 H 



