\ 



ANIMAL MANURES. lli? 



heap, and moistening it with liquid from the tub, the ferti- 

 lizing qualities of the manure will be greatly increased. 



185. It is considered indispensable by many persons 

 when the liquid manure is to be applied directly to the fields, 

 that it should be allowed to remain for some time in the 

 !-eservoir, that it may undergo fermentation. But this plan 

 Avould require tanks of greater capacity than are likely to be 

 provided by the greater number of farmers. When used as 

 a top-dressing, if diluted vnth four or five times its bulk of 

 water, or the washings of the byres and dwelling-house, it 

 may be applied without apprehension; for manuring the 

 ploughed soil before sowing, it is unnecessary to dilute it. 

 On the continent, the farmers consider the liquid manure to 

 be peculiarly adapted for the cultivation of potatoes and other 

 root-crops; and in Belgium, light sandy soils, which in this 

 country would be regarded as worthless, are made to yield 

 splendid crops of hay by frequent applications of it. 



1 86. From reflecting upon the loss which is experienced 

 m the ordmary method of treating manure, many intel- 

 ligent farmers in this country have adopted the plan of 

 conveying the fresh unfermented dung directly from the stable 

 to the fields, and of allowing it there to undergo the changes 

 required to enable it to assist vegetation. Opposite opinions 

 •especting the propriety of this practice are held by some* of 

 >'ir most experienced cultivators. But from a careful con- 

 sideration of the subject, and from observing the success with 

 Avliich this method has been followed, both in our own and 



)ther countries, I would advise you, instead of allowing the 

 iuanure to accumulate in heaps, to convey it as frequently 

 as possible to your fields, and to bury it at once in the soil. 

 While the action of rotten dung is soon exhausted, the fresh 

 manure affords a steady supply of food to plants by its 

 . radual decomposition, and the heat given out by its decay, 



iie benefit of which is usually lost to the farmer, must also 

 >ntribute to promote vegetation. It has been objected that 



or crops which, like the tmnip, require to be rapidly pushed 



or ward in the first period of their growth, fully fermented 

 uanure is necessary, but for these crops a small quantity of 

 ^'uano or dissolved bones should be invariably applied with 

 the farm manure. This practice is followed with gi-eat 



access on the well-managed farms of the Messrs, Andrews 



car Comber, Countv Down. 



