FAEMYAED MANUEE 319 



Loss by drainage. When fresh manure is removed 

 from the stables and cowhouses it is often nearly satu- 

 rated ; as fermentation proceeds more water is formed 

 and the organic matter by which it is retained is gradu- 

 ally diminished in quantity. In addition to this, the 

 manure is often exposed to the weather and rain soaks 

 into it. The excess of water gradually niters down- 

 wards and, if allowed to escape, all the fertilising ingre- 

 dients which it holds in solution, i.e., the most active 

 and valuable part of the manure, are lost. The manure 

 should not, therefore, be placed on an eminence or 

 sloping place as is sometimes done, for in such positions 

 the liquid rapidly drains away. 



In order to prevent the waste of manure in this way, a 

 special receptacle is constructed in the yard on many of 

 the larger farms. It consists of a shallow pit or saucer- 

 shaped depression, the bottom of which is covered with 

 cement or other watertight material, laid with a fall 

 towards the centre so that all the liquid collects in a 

 tank placed there to receive it. A pump is fitted in 

 connection with the tank so that the liquid can ( be 

 pumped up and distributed over the heap from time to 

 time. A fairly good substitute can he made by simply 

 scooping out a few inches of soil and covering the bottom 

 with a layer of plastic clay two or three inches thick and 

 well beaten in so as to render it impermeable to the 

 liquid. The pit may be round or square, but should 

 be deeper towards the middle than at the sides. The 

 earth which is dug out may be used to form a lip or 

 bank round the margin so as to prevent the access of 

 surface water. This simple arrangement can be carried 

 out at the cost of a little trouble which it amply repays. 



Similar precautions should be observed in the con- 

 struction of fold-yards and boxes. The bottoms should 

 be below the level of the ground, and should be 



