Jiemarks on the Plan ofu Stercorary, 283 



Let those who will not incur the expence of a pro- 

 per stercoriiry, fence or pen their clung heaps; having 

 (as I have clone profitably for many years) formed the 

 bed in the manner directed. Let drains, leading into 

 a clayed vat, or even a liogshead sunk in the earth, be 

 made. The heap may be covered with a straw roof, 

 supported b3/ posts set in the ground. The rudest 

 step towards the object, is better than our present mis- 

 management. Dung or muck, lying light, and not 

 trodden by cattle, ferments and puti'efies quickly and 

 equally. 



Cattle should be confined at nights, in summer. — 

 When they will not feed in the day, owing to flies and 

 extreme heat, they should be fed at night with cut 

 grass ; and their dvmg composted, or thrown into the 

 stercorary. Summer dung is generally lost in the 

 fields; being either rendered v/orthless by exposure, or 

 carried away by beetles.* 



Plaister of Paris ^ strewed on the layers of dung, pro. 

 motes fermentation and putrefaction; whereas limey 

 especially before it is slacked, impedes them, and con- 

 sumes putrescible substances, forming v\ith the resi- 

 duum, which is carbonc^ an insoluble compound. — 

 The gi/psufn mixed in composts is found highly bene, 

 ficial, and far preferable to lime, which should not be 

 admitted while the fermentation and putrefaction are 

 in progress; or afterwards, until it is slacked. The 

 muck should be considered only as a means of impreg- 

 nating other matter, and not a dependence in chief. — 

 Good surface mould, or common earth, thrown from 

 time to time on the muck heap, becomes a manure ; 

 and adds to the fertilizing qualities of the dung. It 



