ON MANURES. 33 



This tliflbrence of opinion may however have arisen from 

 attention not having been paid to tlie different qualities of tlie 

 dung-, as well as to the use intended to be made of it. When 

 the materials removed from the yard consist chiefly of litter in 

 a fresh or rough state, not sufficiently saturated with the urine 

 of cattle, or when the manure is not intended to be immedi- 

 ately applied to the land, no serious damage can ensue from 

 driving the carts — which are usually drawn by one horse — 

 across the heap, when the dung has risen to some height upon 

 the foundation ; but if that operation be performed before some 

 considerable portion of the dung be laid on, the inevitable con- 

 sequence will be that the bottom, which consists of either 

 of earth or of other matter devoid of elasticity, will thus be 

 kneaded into solid and unequal lumps, which will occasion tlie 

 elfect complained of Care should therefore be taken to make 

 the heap so narrow, that, by driving on each side of it, the 

 carts may be backed, and the dung shot upon the pile, which 

 may then be levelled with grapes, or forks, and laid compactly 

 together. Much labour of the teams will thus be saved : if 

 the object be to prevent fermentation, the dung may be regu- 

 larly and closely trodden down by the men employed in 

 spreading and levelling it ; and the quantity of earth to be laid 

 over it may be regulated accordingly. If, on the other hand, 

 the manure be intended for immediate use — then the dung 

 should be thrown lightly together without treading, and the 

 quantity of earth on the sides and top should be reduced ; or, 

 if the dung be of a hot nature, from which too sudden or vio- 

 lent fermentation may be apprehended, a portion of the earth 

 may be intimately blended with it, and it will thus be soon 

 brought into a fit state for application. 



It must not, however, escape observation, that store cattle 

 are often kept in straw-yards apart from other stock ; or else 

 that, when the same yard is used, the stable litter of horses is 

 thrown separately out, and thus produces two very distinct 

 species of dung. Attention should therefore be paid, in clear- 

 ing the yards, to take a few cart loads from each kind alter- 

 nately, so that the whole may be, as nearly as possible, equally 

 mixed, and heat alike. It will thus also be seen if any portion 

 of the dung is too dry, in which case it should be distributed 

 among that which is wet ; and if there be any general defi- 

 ciency of moisture, or if the external parts of the heap become 

 dry during the process of fermentation, they should be tho- 

 roughly wetted. The heaps, too, should be of moderate size, 



