ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MANURES. 67 



solid, liquid, or gaseous, — be it bone, horn, urine, hair, 

 wool, or flesh, or the gases which are generated by the 

 decomposition of these matters, — but, with like care and 

 skill, may be converted into new vegetable, and after- 

 wards into new animal matters. To economize and ap- 

 ply all these fertilizing materials is the province and the 

 duty of the husbandman. To aid him in this useful labor, 

 is the object of this essay. And, 



1st. Of the cattle-yard. This should be located on 

 the south side of and adjoining the barn. Sheds, sub- 

 stantial walls, or close board-fences, should be erected 

 at least on the east and west sides, to shelter the cattle 

 from cold winds and storms — the size and the divisions 

 to be adapted to the stock which it is intended to feed. 

 Excavate the centre, or some other part of the yard, 

 placing the earth removed upon the borders, which may 

 be ten to fourteen feet broad, or upon the lower sides, 

 where there is a descent, so that the liquids will all run to 

 the centre, and the borders, which should be left gently 

 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 shovel 

 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 sufficiently com- 

 pact to hold water, or is not likely to become so by the 

 tread of the cattle, or the puddling efl!ects 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 or swamp earth, where it is at command ; and 

 where it is not, vj\i\\ 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 subsequently, as they may 

 be gathered, the weeds, potato and pumpkin vines, and 



