AGRICULTURE WITH CHEMISTRY. 95 



mits a greater number of cattle to be maintained, and a 

 greater quantity of rea/ dung to be procured, than when 

 a less number of stock are kept and well littered. 



Food in its passage through the bodies of animals be-- 

 comes mixed with an imalized matter, and consequently 

 more rich and more valuable, weight for weight, as a 

 manure, than dung procured by littering cattle, although 

 there must necessarily be much less in bulk or quantity, 

 from the large proportion of the food of animals, which 

 goes off by breathing and insensible perspiration ; be- 

 side which, without the utmost care, it is extremely 

 difficult to prevent the wrint and the valuable juices of 

 the dung from sinking through the floors of cow-houses 

 and stables, or the soil of farm-yards. Could these incon- 

 veniencies be effeflually provided against by a proper 

 flooring of clay or chalk, a preference appears due to the 

 consum.ption of the whole of the produce by cattle, pro- 

 vided that attention be paid to the mixing daily a sufficici"H; 

 quantity of joeat or mould with the dung and urine, so as 

 completely to absorb and take up whatever may remain of 

 these matters in a fluid state. By this process there can be 

 no doubt that a greater quantity, and a still more valuable 



dun.ir 



