THE MANAGEMENT OF MANURES. 97 



tificial manures, than for the same amount of nitrogen and phos- 

 phoric acid in stable-manure." 



We will not discuss this point at present. What I want to as- 

 certain is, whether we can not find some method of making our 

 farm-yard manure more readily available. Piling it up, and let- 

 ting it ferment, is one method of doing this, though I think other 

 methods will yet be discovered. Possibly it will be found that 

 spreading well-rotted manure on the surface of the land will be 

 one of the most practical and simplest methods of accomplishing 

 this object. 



"We pile the manure, therefore," said Charley, "first, because 

 we do not wish it to lie exposed to the rain in the yards, 

 and, second, because fermenting it in the heap renders it more 

 soluble, and otherwise more available for the crops, when applied 

 to the land." 



That is it exactly, and another reason for piling manure is, that 

 the fermentation greatly reduces its bulk, and we have less labor 

 to perform in drawing it out and spreading it. Ellwanger & 

 Barry, who draw several thousand loads of stable-manure every 

 year, and pile it up to ferment, tell me that it takes three loads of 

 fresh manure to make one load of rotted manure. This, of course, 

 has reference to bulk, and not weight. Three tons of fresh barn-yard 

 manure, according to the experiments of Dr. Vcslcker, will make 

 about two tons when well rotted. Even this is a great saving of 

 labor, and the rotted manure can be more easily spread, and mixed 

 more thoroughly with the soil a point of great importance. 





lc Another reason for fermenting manure," said the Squire, " is 

 the destruction of weed-seeds." 



" That is true," said I, " and a very important reason ; but I try 

 not to think about this method of killing weed-seeds. It is a great 

 deal better to kill the weeds. There can be no doubt that a fer- 

 menting manure-heap will kill many of the weed-seeds, but enough 

 will usually escape to re-seed the land." 



It is fortunate, however, that the best means to kill weed-seeds 

 in the manure, are also the best for rendering the manure most 

 efficient. I was talking to John Johnston on this subject a few 

 days ago. He told me how he piled manure in his yards. 



" I commence," he said, " where the heap is intended to be, and 

 throw the manure on one side, until the bare ground is reached." 



" What is the use of that ?" I asked. 



" If you do not do so," he replied, " there will be some portion of 

 5 



