52 A PRACTICAL TREATISE 



that, by deep covering-, the dung- is defended from the injurious 

 effect of exhalation — that the roots of plants soon find their 

 way to it — and that it will be raised higher by after-ploug-h- 

 ing^s, — yet there are men of accurate observation who, from 

 longf experience, have found tiiat, if dung be only just covered, 

 the nearer it is to the surface, the greater are its effects in 

 projnoting fertility, for then it lies near the roots of youn^ 

 plants at the time when they need the most cherishhig ali- 

 ment. They also declare, that dung never rises to the surface 

 after it has lain mixed for a se-ason with the soil ; but, on the 

 contrary, tliat, as it dissolves in the earth, the solution descends 

 as low as the soil has been stirred by the plough. 



It is another rule in the application of farm-yard manure, 

 among good farmers, not to use a greater quantity at one time 

 than may be supposed capable of producing a good crop; 

 for, although land can hardly be rendered too rich for the pro- 

 duction of green crops, yet wheat, barley, oats, and rye have 

 often been so much injured by a profuse supply of dung, that 

 they have run almost entirely to straw. We have lately seen 

 wheat, on good and well-tilled land, in tiie possession of an 

 extensive coach-master, which has scarcely yielded two quar- 

 ters the acre, in consequence of the application of stable-dung; 

 and it is well known that a good crop of grain cannot be 

 grown upon a dunghill. It should not, however, be too spar- 

 ingly administered, for if an insufficient quantity be laid on, it 

 may not reimburse the expense; whereas a full supply will 

 probably have the effect of producing an abundant crop. A 

 medium should therefore be observed ; but so much depends 

 upon circumstances, — upon the strength of the manure, the 

 nature of the soil, and the intended crop and culture, — that no 

 precise amount can be stated. Various calculations have 

 indeed been m.ade by different writers upon the subject, but 

 they are generally so vague, that they only estimate the quantity 

 in loads, by which no precise meaning can be defined, for it 

 must depend upon the size of the cart; and even when calcu- 

 lated in cubic yards, the weight will differ according to the 

 state of the manure, though one cubic yard of well-rotted dung 

 may be generally supjwsed to average about 11 cwt. A well- 

 heaped one-horse cart will carry nearly a ton, and those drawn 

 by two horses about li ton; a small wagon is also commonly 

 supposed to contain two cubical yards, each consisting of 27 

 bushels, when estimated by strike-measure, and twice as much 

 if iieaped ; or a proportionate quantity in weight. 



