294 



IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOIL BY 



borders, which may be ten to fourteen feet broad, or 

 upon the lower sides, where there is a descent, so that 

 the Hquids will all run to the centre, and the borders, 

 which should be left gentl}^ inclining, will remain dry 

 and firm, for feeding the cattle upon. The centre 

 may be from two to five feet lower than the borders. 

 The labor may be done principally with the plough 

 and scraper, and smoothed off with the scraper and 

 hoe. We were employed two days and a half, with 

 two hands and a team, in giving a cattle-yard the 

 desired shape. When the soil of the yard is not suffi- 

 ciently compact to hold water, or is not likely to be- 

 come so by the tread of the cattle, or the puddling 

 eifects of the manure, the bottom should be bedded 

 with six or eight inches of clay, well beat down, and 

 well covered with gravel. This is seldom, however, 

 necessary. Our yards are upon a sand loam,' and yet 

 the liquids never sink into the earth. 



When the yard is prepared, the first thing done 

 should be to overlay the whole bottom with six to 

 twelve inches of peat-smamp earth, where it is at com- 

 mand ; and, where it is not, with earth from ditches, 

 the road-side, or other rich deposits. It is then fit for 

 the reception of the cattle, and of straw, coarse hay, 

 corn-stalks, and other litter of the farm ; and, subse- 

 quently ^ as they may be gathered, the weeds, potato and 

 pumpkin-vines, and other vegetable matters. These 

 materials will absorb or take up the urine and other 

 liquids, and, becoming incorporated with the dung, 

 double or treble the ordinary quantity of manure. 

 During the continuance of frost, the excavation gives 

 no inconvenience ; and, when the weather is soft, the 

 borders afford space for feeding the cattle, and for a dry 

 passage to the barn. In this way the urine is saved, 

 and the waste incident to rains, &c. prevented. The 

 barns and sheds which adjoin the yards should be pro- 

 vided with eve-gutters, which should discharge out- 

 side of the yard, so that the waters from the roofs may 

 pass ofi". 



