ON MANURES. 



61 



to the field, with the least possible delay ; and, if laid upon 

 arable, to turn it immediately into the soil. 11. To preserve 

 the drainage from stables and dung-hills in every possible way; 

 and if not applied in a liquid state, to throw it again upon the 

 mixen.(a) 12. To try experiments, during a series of years, 

 upon the same soils and crops, with equal quantities of dung, 

 laid on fresh, and afterwards rotted ; in order to ascertain the 

 results of their application to the land. The whole quantity 

 to be first weighed, or measured, and then divided. 



The fermentation of farm-yard manure is, in fact, a subject 

 of far greater importance than is generally imagined, for on 

 a due estimation of its value mainly depends the individual 

 success, as well as the national prosperity, of our agriculture. 

 The experiments to which we point cannot therefore fail to 

 come home to the interests of every man ; they may be made 

 without expense, and without any other trouble tiian the mere 

 exercise of common observation and intelligence. Leaving, 

 however, aside the discussion concerning the disputed worth 

 of fresh or fermented — of long or short dung — let the farmer 

 sedulously bend his attention to the accumulation of the utmost 

 quantity that it may be in his power to procure. The manner 

 and the time of using it, in either state, must, however, be 

 governed by circumstances which may not always be within 

 his control; and every judicious husbandman will rather 

 accommodate himself to the exigency of the case, than adhere 

 strictly to his own notions of what he conceives to be the best 

 practice. In fine, whether favouring the one or the other side 

 of the question, let him collect all he can ; apply it carefully 

 to his crops; and then, trusting to events — *let the land and 

 the muck settle it.'' 



(a) If it be not convenient to have stables with tiffht floors and a gutter, 

 straw and charcoal, if kept in a cellar underneath, will be valuable for catch- 

 ing urine and retaining its volatile portions. 



