SMALL HOLDINGS 203 



that of the solid dung, and unless great care 

 is taken to prevent its decomposition the 

 nitrogen which it contains, and which is 

 considerable, is lost, and it is practically true 

 that upon nine farms out of ten, whatever 

 their size, three-fourths of this liquid never 

 reaches the land. The small holders of this 

 country will do well to follow the example 

 of the small farmers of Belgium, Holland, 

 and other Continental countries where the 

 greatest pains are taken to prevent the loss 

 of the smallest portion of the excrement 

 of the live-stock of the farm. 



One of the most important aids to milk 

 production is phosphatic manure. There is 

 no form of fertiliser which is so suitable 

 to the production of grass, inasmuch as it 

 influences both the weight and the quality. 

 Systematic manuring with superphosphate, 

 basic superphosphate, bone manures, or basic 

 slag, is followed by an increase in the clovers 

 and a corresponding diminution in the weeds. 

 The grasses, like cereals, respond to manures 

 containing nitrogen, and as the clover herbage 

 is rich in this element, the more abundant it 

 is the richer the manure produced by the 

 stock feeding upon it, and the more abundant 

 the grass. Thus the employment of phosphates 



