On Manures. 205 



place, by which the compost is brought into an excellent 

 state of preparation as a manure for turnips ( l78 ). 



2. Late in Spring. When the dung is taken out of the 

 yards, only a short time before it is wanted for the turnip 

 crop, bottoms should be prepared, as formerly directed ; but 

 the dung should not be carted upon the heaps, to compress 

 them, and to prevent fermentation, but should be thrown 

 up lightly with the fork, upon the bottoms, so as to favour 

 it. The heaps, when completed, should be covered with 

 earth ; and they will soon take a gentle fermentation, and be 

 ready for use( 179 ). 



It is now generally admitted, that when turnips are sown 

 in drills, rotten dung, recently applied, greatly promotes the 

 success of that crop. The bulk of the manure is certainly 

 diminished, but the expense of its conveyance, and the la- 

 bour of depositing it in the ground, are lessened, and it is 

 rendered much more manageable. Above all, the speedy 

 germination on the plant is greatly promoted, by which it 

 stands a better chance of escaping the ravages of the fly. 



In the Netherlands, the greatest possible attention is paid 

 to putrescent manure. The more opulent pave and line with 

 brick the receptacles for their dung, which is thus kept 

 constantly plunged in a mass of liquid matter. The fibrous 

 parts of the vegetables are thus completely decomposed, 

 and four tons of this manure, will go as far as five, collected 

 and kept with less skill and precaution. 



3. Mode of Application. 



Dung is applied to, Fallows, Green crops, Corn 

 crops or Grass. This last mode of application will be no- 

 ticed, when the subject of grass lands is treated of. 



1. Strong soils, not in a high state of fertility, when sub- 

 jected to the fallow process, are manured with dung; and if 

 the land is thoroughly cleaned, the dung may be applied, with 

 more advantage to the occupier, during the fallow, than in 

 any other stage of the rotation, provided it is completely in- 

 corporated with the soil, with as little delay as possible, after 

 it is taken from the cart. It is the worst of management, to 

 allow dung to be much exposed to the sun, or drying winds ; 

 for the rays of the sun exhale much of the richest quali- 

 ties of the dung, and drying winds destroy its value and uti- 

 lity. 



2. The best application of farm-yard dung, in the case of 

 light soils, is to green crops of every description, more es- 



