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The question of the proper mode of the applica- 

 tion of the dung of horses and cattle, however, pro- 

 perly belongs to the subject of composite manures, for 

 it is usually mixed in the farm-yard with straw, offal, 

 chaff, and various kind of litter; and itself contains a 

 large proportion of fibrous vegetable matter. 



A slight incipient fermentation is undoubtedly of 

 use in the dunghill; for by means of it a disposition is 

 brought on in the woody fibre to decay and dissolve, 

 when it is carried to the land, or ploughed into the 

 soil; and woody fibre is always in great excess in the 

 refuse of the farm. 



Too great a degree of fermentation is, however, 

 very prejudicial to the composite manure in the dung- 

 hill; it is better that there should be no fermentation 

 at all before the manure is used, than that it should be 

 carried too far, This must he obvious from what 

 has been already stated in this Lecture. The excess 

 of fermentation tends to the destruction and dissipa- 

 tion of the most useful part of the manure; and the 

 ultimate results of this process are like those of com- 

 bustion. 



It is a common practice amongst farmers, to suf- 

 fer the farm-yard dung to ferment till the fibrous 

 texture of the vegetable matter is entirely broken 

 down; and till the manure becomes perfectly cold, 

 and so soft as to be easily cut by the spade. 



Independent of the general theoretical views un- 

 favourable to this practice founded upon the nature 

 and composition of vegetable substances, there are 

 many arguments and facts which shew that it is pre- 

 judicial to the interests of the farmer. 



