FARMYARD MANURE 321 



When the manure is deposited in small loose heaps, the 

 amount of loss is very great. They never become con- 

 solidated and rapid fermentation continues until arrested 

 by desiccation. Manure which has been allowed to 

 become dry and mouldy in this way is generally of very 

 inferior quality. 



These observations are of great practical interest as 

 showing the importance of consolidating the manure in 

 the process of making, and of leaving it undisturbed 

 until it is carried out to the land. If it is turned or 

 moved, active aerobic fermentation is resumed and loss 

 of nitrogen results. It has been shown by experiments 

 at Woburn and elsewhere that the least loss occurs in 

 actual practice when the manure is made in yards or 

 boxes. These are constructed to prevent any loss by 

 drainage ; the manure is well trampled by the cattle 

 and never disturbed, fresh litter, being spread on the 

 top of the old as required. Under these conditions the 

 loss of nitrogen may be reduced to from 10 to 20 per 

 cent, of the total amount in the food, in addition to what 

 is retained by the animals. When the manure is carried 

 out day by day and made into' a heap in the yard, with 

 the most careful management, the loss is at least double 

 that amount and may be very much more. In the, 

 Woburn experiments the loss in making the manure in 

 boxes as above described amounted to from 13 to 18 per 

 cent, of the total nitrogen ; the manure was afterwards 

 removed and stored in a heap during the winter, when a 

 further loss of about 20 per cent, took place. In 

 Maercker and Schneidewind's experiments the manure 

 made in boxes and well trampled by the animals, lost 

 13 per cent, of nitrogen, whereas that carried out day 

 by day to a heap in the yard lost 37 per cent., care 

 being taken to prevent any loss by drainage. The 

 manure made an the boxes was allowed to remain there 



S.M. Y 



