202 On Manures. 



hog-styes are cleaned out ( l67 ). If a small quantity of earth 

 or moss, can be put between each stratum, so much the better. 



4. The quality of the dung of every animal, will in a 

 great measure be proportioned to the richness or poverty of 

 its food( 168 ). Hence the dung from the stables and cow- 

 houses, is preferred to that of young cattle kept in the farm- 

 yard, on food of a less nourishing quality. It frequently 

 happens, however, that where stock is kept in sheds, or ham- 

 mels, connected with the farm-yard, and liberally supplied 

 with turnips, carrots, and other nourishing articles of food, 

 dung equal to any to be otherwise obtained, is procured. 



5. Next to animal excrement, straw is the chief material 

 of a dunghill; and too much attention cannot be paid to col- 

 lecting it. For that purpose, the greatest care is taken by 

 the diligent husbandman, to cut his crops low. When reap- 

 ing is carelessly executed, it has been calculated, that one- 

 fourth part of the straw is left upon the ground, where its 

 strength and substance is wasted, by the rains and storms 

 of autumn and winter ; whereas, by attention to the reaping 

 process, one ton, and even more, of additional manure, per 

 acre, may be obtained ( I<59 ). The value of straw is great, not 

 only in consequence of its own substance, but from the quan- 

 tity of liquid matter which it absorbs. By an experiment 

 carefully made, it appeared, that dry wheat straw, by absorp- 

 tion, had increased in weight, from 300 to 719 stone, mak- 

 ing an increase of not less than 419 stone, during a period 

 of seven months ( I7 ). 



6. It is a good rule, to lay a stratum of peat, mould, 

 marl, chalk, scourings of ditches, and other earthy sub- 

 stances, on the surface of the farm-yard, before the dung is 

 collected, in order to absorb those valuable juices that other- 

 wise might be lost( 171 ). This forms a rich compost at a 

 small expense. It should be turned and mixed soon after 

 the cattle are removed out of the farm-yard. It will thus be 

 brought into a most advantageous state, either for being 

 spread upon the grass land in October, or on the arable 

 land, as a top-dressing in spring. 



7. As in heavy rains, notwithstanding every precaution, 

 some water will run from the yard, there ought to be a co- 

 vered reservoir to receive it, so situated, that the liquid can 

 either be pumped upon the dunghill, if it requires it, or up- 

 on heaps of earth, collected for that purpose ( l7 *). The 

 stables and cow-houses ought also to be regularly washed, 

 as is done in Flanders; and much useful matter might in this 

 way be collected, and conveyed to the reservoir. Where 



