204 On Manures. 



For raising potatoes, the dung of horses alone, from its 

 heating quality, may perhaps be used nearly fresh from the 

 stables, as it will ferment in the ground. It is this dung 

 alone, that some practical farmers mean, when they talk of 

 fresh dung ( 1?<s ) But in a cold and wet climate, dung ought 

 to be moderately fermented, before it is inserted in the 

 ground. The utility of fermented dung is proved, from the 

 little advantage derived from what is dropt upon the ground, 

 and has not undergone that process. 



Some farmers are of opinion, that stable-yard manure, 

 should never be stirred, till finally carted to the field, and 

 deposited in the soil, for that every time it is stirred, its 

 finest and most valuable parts escape into the atmosphere. 

 But few occupiers are possessed of stock sufficient, to 

 manage the manuring of a large farm on this system, and 

 at the same time to carry on the operations of ploughing, 

 harrowing, &c. It is therefore thought most expedient, to 

 remove the dung, from the yard in which it has been col- 

 lected, and to place it in heaps near the fields where the 

 crops are to be sown( 177 ). This may be effected, either, 

 1. Early in the season ; or, 2. Late in spring. The plan of 

 management should vary in these different cases. 



1. Early in the Season. When it is expedient to remove 

 the dung to the turnip fields, early in the season, large quan- 

 tities of clay, marl, or such other substances, should be col- 

 lected for the reception of the dung heaps. The bottoms for 

 these heaps, should consist of from six to eight inches of these 

 materials, and the dung should not be thrown loosely upon 

 them, to cause fermentation, but the carts, with their loads, 

 should be drawn upon the heaps, for the purpose of com- 

 pressing the dung, and thereby preventing fermentation) until 

 the proper period arrives. The dung should be spread re- 

 gularly, so as to render the ascent easy for the succeeding 

 teams, as they come with their loads. When the heap is 

 completed, it should then be covered with marl, clay, or 

 earth, so as effectually to inclose the dung heaps, in crusts. 

 The dung is thus preserved in pies, (as these heaps are call- 

 ed,) without loss from exhalation or evaporation, and in 

 an unfermented state. By this means, the rising vapour 

 is caught, and the volatile matter retained, which would 

 otherwise be lost. A fortnight before the manure is re- 

 quired for the turnip grounds, these pies ought to be care- 

 fully turned over, and thoroughly mixed. They should 

 be again covered with earth, when a fermentation will take 



