ORGANIC MA NUKES. 57 



menting in the open air and undiluted, it lias been found that 

 in six weeks, cow's urine will lose nearly one half of its solid 

 matter or salts, and 6-7ths of its ammonia ; while that which 

 had been mixed with an equal quantity of water, lost only 

 1.18th of the former and l-9th of the latter. The stables 

 and troughs leading to the tank should be frequently washed 

 down and sprinkled with gypsum. This last will absorb 

 much of the ammonia which would otherwise escape. Somo 

 loss of the volatile matter must be expected, and the sooner 

 it is used after proper fermentation or ripeness, as it is termed, 

 the greater will be the economy. 



LIQUID MANURE APPLIED TO THE MUCK HEAP, As E 



general rule, it is more economical and a great saving of labor 

 to keep the urine above ground and mix it at once with the 

 manure ; but in this case vegetable or earthly absorbents 

 must be adequately supplied ; and in addition, the heap ought 

 frequently to be sprinkled with gypsum or charcoal. Rich 

 turf, the wash of the road-side, tun-bark or saw-dust, and all 

 refuse vegetables may be used for this purpose, and so placed 

 that the liquid can run on to them, or be deposited where it can 

 be poured over it. The same protection of a rough open shed 

 should be given to this as to the other heaps, to facilitate evapo 

 ration and prevent drenching from rains. When fully satu- 

 rated with the urinary salts and all is properly decomposed, it 

 may be carried out for use, or closely covered with earth till 

 wanted. The decomposition is in a great measure arrested 

 by covering with compact earth thoroughly trodden together ; 

 this prevents the access of air, which is essential to its 

 progress, 



A simple yet economical mode of saving the liquid manure, 

 is sometimes adopted in Scotland, and is thus detailed: 



" We divide a shed into two compartments, one of which we 

 make water-tight, by puddling the side walls with clay to the 

 height, say, of two feet, and separated from the other com- 

 partment by a low water-tight wall or hoarding. This is my 

 fermenting tank, which is filled half or three parts full of pul- 

 verized burnt peat, and the liquid manure from the stable, pig- 

 styes, &c., .directed into it. This is mixed up with the pul- 

 verized peat, and allowed to remain throe or tour weeks, till 

 the decomposition seems about completed, being occasionally 

 stirred about after the composition has become about the con- 

 sistency of gruel. The whole is then ladled (with a pole and 

 bucket) over the low partition into the second floor, which is 

 also three parts filled with the carbonized peat ; and as the 



