FARM-YARD MANURE. 125 



cles it once possessed, and that no heaps should 

 be allowed to ferment and decompose until a 

 few days prior to their application to the soil. 

 The utility of allowing decomposition thus to 

 commence, is that the ultimate decay of the 

 manure is thereby hastened. Whereas if this 

 decomposition had not so commenced before its 

 application to the soil, a much longer time 

 would be necessary for its decay therein. 



Decomposition once having commenced in a 

 dung heap, it is only to be arrested by being 

 separated and kept dry, but when spread on 

 the land, the natural moisture of the earth, in- 

 dependently of rain, would be sufficient for its 

 renewal. 



As far then as these observations have al- 

 ready extended, it seems desirable that farm* 

 yard dung should be applied to the land, when 

 decomposition has already decidedly com- 

 menced, but when it has not been carried so far 

 as to have destroyed the vegetable structure. 

 In this state we conceive it to be best adapted 

 for promoting the growth of other plants; the 

 moisture of the ground will facilitate its decay, 

 and the supply of carbon will, from its conti- 

 nued decomposition, be uniform and abundant. 

 And if no unnecessary time is allowed to 

 elapse, from the time of its application to the 

 soil to that of its being ploughed in, very little, 

 if any, of its fertilizing properties will be lost. 



The saline particles also which the refuse 

 matter of all plants contain, will, when they are 

 thus decomposed, be gradually dissolved in the 

 soil, and will furnish their quota for the nutri- 

 tion of other plants, and none wull be wasted. 

 12 



