60 A PRACTICAL TREATISE 



purchased dung-; that the whole of the green crops, the hauhii 

 of pulbc, and the straw of corn be used in the most economical 

 rniinner; and that some of the live stock be either soiled or 

 fitleued upon oil-cake: which plan, if carefully pursued on 

 ^ood soils, with capital sufficient to secure an abundant work- 

 ing and fdUing stock of cattle, ought, under fair management, 

 to furnish an adequate supply of dung for any of the usual 

 courses of culture. 



Having thus submitted to our readers all that occurs to us 

 of importance on the subject of farm-yard manure, we shall 

 here recapitulate a summary of the chief points which we' 

 deem particularly worthy of their consideration: — 



1. To bottom the farm-yard with any loose refuse that takes 

 the longest time to dissolve; and over that to bed it deep with 

 SI raw, 2. To occasionally remove the cribs of store cattle to 

 different parts of the straw-yard, in order that their dung may 

 be dropped, and their litter trodden equally. 3. To spread the 

 dung of other animals, when thrown into the yards, in equal 

 layers over every part. 4. To remove the dung from the yard 

 at least once, or oftener, during the winter, to the mixen. 

 5. To turn and mix all dung-hills, until the woody or fibrous 

 texture of the matter contained in them, and" the roots and 

 seeds of weeds, be completely decomposed, and until they emit 

 a foul putrid smell; by which time they reach their greatest 

 degree of strength, and arrive at the state of spit-dung. 6, To 

 keep the dung in an equal state of moisture, so as to prevent 

 any portion of the heap from becoming fire-fanged. If the 

 fermentation be too rapid, heavy watering will abate the heat; 

 but it will afterwards revive with increased force, unless the 

 heap be either trodden firmly down or covered with mould to 

 exclude the air. 7. To ferment the dung, if to be laid upon 

 arable land during the autumn, in a much less degree than 

 that to be applied before a spring sowing. 8. To lay a larger 

 quantity on cold and wet lands than on those of a lighter 

 nature; because the former require to be corrected by the 

 warmth of the dung, while on dry, sandy, and gravelly soils, 

 the application of too much dung is apt to burn up the plants. 

 Stiff land will also be loosened by the undecayed fibres of long- 

 dung, which, although its putrefaction will tiius be retarded, 

 and its fertilizing power delayed, will yet ultimately afford 

 nourishment. 9. To form composts with dung, or other animal 

 and vegetable substances, and earth, for application to light 

 soils. 10. To spread the manure upon the land, when carried 



