Probably the most satisfactory manner in which manure 

 can be preserved is in pits. A few cultivators adopt this 

 system and enrich the whole by the addition of sewage 

 from mosques. The number, however, is only too limited. 

 The pits should be tightly rammed at the bottom and 

 covered at the sides with clay or some material which will 

 harden. The whole should be kept moist, preferably by 

 the addition of liquid manure, and frequently turned over 

 t<> secure uniform fermentation. In this manner there 

 would be a much smaller loss than takes place under the 

 conditions usually prevailing. 



The net result therefore of keeping manure for some 

 time is a conversion of a considerable portion of the 

 fertilising ingredients into more available and soluble forms, 

 yet on the other hand there is a loss in the total amount of 

 valuable ingredients and especially nitrogen, the extent 

 of the latter depending on the care or otherwise with which 

 the manure is preserved. In Egypt, as already explained, 

 the manure heap accumulates chiefly during the summer 

 and autumn months and is largely destined for cotton 

 land to which it is generally applied in the month of 

 February. As a general rule, it may be said the fellaheen 

 do not keep their manure as long in the heap as the large 

 cultivators. With a smaller area of land, they are more 

 intensive cultivators and have a larger supply at their 

 disposal, owing to the greater number of animals, relative 

 to area, which they possess. 



Fresh farm-yard manure is more forcing than that 

 which has been stored for some time and while this may 

 be no disadvantage for rapidly growing, leafy crops 



