124 FARM-YARD MANURE. 



farm-yard manure is put together in a heap 

 and exposed to the weather, the moisture thus 

 absorbed causes immediate decomposition, and 

 the heap is observed to be reeking with steam 

 during the whole day. This steam contains 

 the most valuable portion of the heap, and the 

 fermentation which this indicates should at 

 once be stopped, as the ammonia arising from 

 the decomposition of the urine is then volati- 

 lized (that is, flying off in the shape of vapour) 

 and escaping at an immense sacrifice of real 

 manure to the farmer. To prevent this, the 

 manure heaps should always be kept dry, as 

 moisture inevitably induces decomposition, and 

 when once this has commenced it is diflicult 

 to stop its progress. 



When such decomposition has commenced, 

 the heaps should be spread open, so as in no 

 part to be more than four inches thick, the de- 

 composition would then, provided no moisture 

 reached it, be stayed, and the manure might be 

 kept in this state until wanted for use. Or, if 

 this plan is not feasible, after having been 

 spread out, some gypsum or charcoal fresh 

 burnt should be spread in layers throughout 

 the heap, and this would collect all the ammo- 

 nia, which under other circumstances would be 

 volatilized. 



It cannot be too strongly impressed on all 

 agriculturists, that by allowing their farm-yard 

 manure to become rotten before it is used, they 

 are suffering a severe loss of fertilizing matter, 

 from the combined evaporation of the ammo- 

 nial gases from its surface, and the washing 

 away by means of the rain of the saline parti- 



