On Liquid Manure. 35 



ammonia; the manure ferments regularly and slowly, and liquid and 

 solid excrementitious matters, which are neither of them perfect 

 manures when applied separately, are preserved together in the 

 most admirable manner. But on many farms the whole of the 

 manure cannot be made in boxes, for on some there is too little 

 straw produced, and only some of the cattle can be kept in 

 boxes. In other places the farmer has so much straw that he 

 finds it difficult to dispose of ; he can neither sell the excess to 

 advantage nor make it all into manure in fattening-boxes. 



In the former case, that is when straw is deficient, I would 

 suggest that the urine of cattle should be conducted through iron 

 pipes into a perfectly water-tight tank, placed in the midst of the 

 dung-steading, or close to one side of it. Let the manure-pit be 

 covered by a roof, supported by several upright poles. Such a 

 roof perhaps might be cheaply made of asphalted felt a material 

 that is both waterproof and light. A roof made of this material 

 would not I imagine take very stout posts for supports, and could 

 be erected at quite a cheap rate. The four sides of this erection 

 would be of course left open, so that the wind could sweep over 

 the manure in the pit in every direction. 



Care should be taken to prevent the water from the roofs of 

 farm-buildings and cattle-sheds from finding its way into the liquid- 

 manure tank. Unless the tank is perfectly water-tight, and the 

 urine of the stables and cowhouses conducted through iron or 

 stoneware pipes, it is hardly possible to exclude drainage-water. 

 By adopting this course, only the urine of cattle, saturated more 

 or less with solid excrements, will find its way into the tank, and 

 a comparatively small quantity of liquid will collect in it. The 

 liquid, being concentrated, will rapidly enter into fermentation, 

 and will lose ammonia by evaporation. It is, therefore, desirable 

 that some oil of vitriol be poured into the tank from time to time, 

 or whenever a pungent smell is discernible. According to the 

 size of the tank 5 to 10 Ibs. of oil of vitriol may be poured into it 

 perhaps every two or three months. By this inexpensive and most 

 effectual mode of preventing loss in ammonia, the manure may be 

 wonderfully improved. 



The solid manure in the pit, being sheltered against rain, 

 rapidly gets drier, for during the fermentation of dung heat is 

 developed, which is spent in the conversion of a considerable 

 portion of the water of the manure into vapour. 



As it is of much consequence to ferment manure with regu- 

 larity, and fermentation is almost altogether stopped when excre- 

 mentitious matters and straw are completely immersed in water, 

 it is advisable to give the dungpit a somewhat inclined position, 

 and to lay down an iron pipe close to the bottom of the pit, and 

 to carry by this means any excess of liquid back into the tank. If 



