Account of a Stercorary. 293 



your opinion. I have however as yet experienced 

 none of the ill effects you anticipated — certainly there 

 has been no injurious eifect upon the health of my cat- 

 tle, and from the salubrity of the atmosphere of my 

 barn, notwithstanding the subjacent manure cellar, 

 there is no idea of that kind entertained by any of the 

 farmers in my neighbourhood to whom I have men- 

 tioned the apprehension. The truth is, the barn is not 

 at all sensibly affected by the exhalation from the ma- 

 nure heap ; or not more than is usual, in this country, 

 where the practice is to expose the whole deposit of 

 the cattle to the air, in an open yard. 



In respect to the inequality of fermentation^ which is 

 another objection, my experience does not evidence it. 

 I have now about six hundred tons^ in my cellar, which 

 has been collecting about a year and a half. It has 

 been in the course of the summer, all turned over and 

 piled anew from the bottom, and I directed my work- 

 men to attend particularly, if there was any quantity of 

 any importance, *' dry rotten, mouldy, or worthless." 

 Their report has been constant as to the perfect state of 

 the manure ; except in a very small part which had 

 been pressed by the mass into the parts adjoining the 

 cistern, where, as you state, " the overabundant moist- 

 ure obstructed putrefaction." This, in such a mass, 

 is of no consequence. And inverting the heap brings 

 into action the desired power. 



As I thought I owed to the interest you was pleased 

 to take in my success, this explanation, I ought to add, 

 that I have no doubt whatever, your reasonings were 

 right, and that your experience is supported by my 

 observation in general. The difference arises from 



