184 AGRICULTURE 



least difficulty where storage is done in the 

 open air ; but if the rainfall is low, and 

 especially if the manure is stored under 

 cover, it is well to have a tank into which 

 the liquids can drain, and from which they 

 may be periodically pumped and distributed 

 over the mass of manure. Then, again, one 

 should see that the manure from the various 

 buildings stables, cowhouses, and piggeries 

 is equally distributed over the heap, so 

 that the dense, moist, cold manure from the 

 cowhouses and piggeries shall have an oppor- 

 tunity of doing something to counteract the 

 tendency towards excessive fermentation that 

 is inseparable from stable dung. 



If manure must be used when in a com- 

 paratively fresh condition it is well to apply 

 it, where possible, to the heaviest class of 

 land, because such manure can do most to 

 open up the soil, and encourage the circula- 

 tion of air. If proper conditions of storage 

 have been observed, the loss of weight in 

 three months may amount to no more than 

 20 per cent. ; but during a longer period 

 of storage, and especially in the absence of 

 satisfactory conditions, the loss may amount 

 to quite 50 per cent. While loss of weight 

 cannot be prevented under any circum- 

 stances, there should be proportionately 



