sect. III. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 241 



should be chosen for the dung-hill, the size 

 bearing proportion to the farm and stock, rather 

 hollow in the middle, of a close and solid bot- 

 tom, and surrounded with a stone or turf-wall. 

 In order to preserve the moisture, and encrease 

 the quantity of manure, it would be a good plan 

 to cover the bottom of the dung-pit with moss, 

 earth, scourings of ditches, &c. to the depth of 

 three feet, upon which let the dung be thrown ; 

 and, in order to produce a proper degree of fer- 

 mentation, and thereby to reduce the straw, and 

 other vegetables mixed with it, to a putrescent 

 state, care should be taken not to compress 

 the dung too much. When fermentation takes 

 place, a considerable quantity of moisture is se- 

 parated, which will be absorbed and retained by 

 the moss or earth put under, and will convert 

 them into rich manure* A similar device might 

 also be used to take up and retain the water 

 which flows, in large quantities, from the byres, 

 when the cattle are feeding on clover or turnip. 



The dung, collected in the straw-yards where 

 the cattle feed, ought to be removed to- the dung- 

 hill at certain periods, perhaps once in three 

 weeks, with a view to fermentation, of which it 

 must remain, in a great measure, incapable, 

 whilst it continues to ly in a scattered state, and 

 under the constant tread of the cattle, and, con- 

 sequently, if carried to the land in this condU 

 tion, its efficacy, as a manure, must be much less 

 powerful. It is proper, likewise, to turn over 

 the dunghill a few weeks before it be laid on the 

 ground. And, when it is carried out, it ought 

 to be instantly spread and ploughed in. When 



":red to remain on the surface, for any length 

 Hh 



