20 FARMYARD MANURE. 



On the Methods of Producing and Keeping Farmyard Manure. 



With reference to the modes of making manure, allow me to 

 observe at once that I am a strong advocate for the box system, 

 and have every reason to consider manure made in boxes incal- 

 culably superior to that made in open yards, and considerably bet- 

 ter than manure made in stables and covered yards. In the prepa- 

 ration of box manure abundance of litter is employed ; and being 

 cut up, the urine of animals is much more perfectly absorbed 

 than in stables, where much of it passes away. This will ex- 

 plain why box-manure is richer in nitrogen and soluble matters, 

 and consequently much more efficacious than common yard- 

 manure. I have heard it stated that the dung made in fattening- 

 boxes remained as fresh after six months as at first ; but this is a 

 mistake. The fact is, the solid and liquid excrements of animals 

 become thoroughly incorporated with the cut straw used as litter, 

 and by the treading of the animals the whole becomes consolidated 

 to an extent that comparatively little air can find access. Still 

 sufficient air comes in contact with the manure, and it undergoes 

 a steady, slow, but uniform fermentation. The dung gradually 

 ripens in the boxes ; and this mode of producing manure pos- 

 sesses the great advantage that, during its stay in the boxes, no 

 ammonia nor any soluble organic and inorganic matters are 

 wasted. 



In many places there exist, it is true, no facilities of making 

 manure in boxes, and other methods of making manure have to 

 be followed. If the manure cannot be made in boxes, it should 

 at least be produced in covered places, and not be kept longer 

 than it can be helped. The sooner it is carted to the field the 

 better. 



Manure made in open yards is always of a very inferior de- 

 scription. Generally the animals kept in open yards are store 

 cattle, which are principally fed upon cut straw, and only now 

 and then get a root. It would be a waste to construct a pit with 

 a watertight tank for such manure ; but I cannot help thinking 

 that it is a mistake to expect the straw in open yards much im- 

 proved in manuring qualities by treading it down by underfed store 

 cattle. The man who keeps lean stock may not experience much 

 loss by keeping the manure exposed to the weather in open 

 yards, for the animals get out of the food all that is good, and 

 hardly find enough to support their own frame. We cannot 

 therefore expect much bone materials or nitrogenised matters in 

 the excrements, and it is not likely that the manure will be very 

 efficacious. But to keep dairy-cows or fattening stock in open 

 yards is a bad practice which should never be tolerated. 



I have always thought that a great loss was experienced by 

 keeping farmyard manure exposed to the rain and ivind in open 



