ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MANURES. 295 



As a further precaution against waste by rains, a 

 cistern or tank may be sunk near the yard, into which 

 an under drain may be made to conduct the liquids, 

 when they are hkely to accumulate to excess. These 

 liquids may be pumped into casks upon carts, and em- 

 ployed to great advantage upon grass or arable crops. 

 The Flemings call these liquids the cooked food of their 

 crops. 



To guard against the wasting influence of the sun 

 in summer, a roughly constructed covering, supported 

 by posts, may be erected over the central depot. This 

 is seldom necessary under our mode of management, 

 which requires a thorough cleaning of the yard every 

 spring, for the corn, potato, and other root crops. 



The cattle should be kept constantly yarded in 

 winter, except when let out to water, not only because, 

 if suffered to run at large, they poach and injure the 

 fields and meadows, but because they waste their 

 dung; and the yard should be frequently replenished 

 with fresh litter. Upon this plan, from ten to twelve 

 loads of manure may readily be obtained, every spring, 

 from each animal wintered in the yard. If the manure 

 from the horse-stables and from stalled neat cattle be 

 added, the quantity will not only be proportionally in- 

 creased, but the quality improved. Whenever the 

 yard is thoroughly cleaned for spring crops, it ought to 

 be again bedded with fresh earth, and well littered. 



2. The Stables, whether occupied by horses or 

 cattle, may be made to contribute much to the value 

 of the yard dung, by their urine, which may be con- 

 ducted into the yard by paved or other conduits, lead- 

 ing from the stables to the yard. In these, too, litter 

 may be as profitably employed to increase the dung, 

 and to promote the health and comfort of the animal, 

 as in the yard or open sheds. The dung from the 

 horse-stables, if suffered to lie in a mass, is apt to heat 

 and become fire-fanged, as it is termed, which very 

 much impairs its quality. Where there are cellars 



