No. 133.J 51 



with muck. Every ten days the muck, charged with urine of 

 the animals, is removed to the manure slied. It usually yields 

 about seven half cords, being about equal to the bulk arising 

 from the solid manure. The two manures are then mixed 

 together, and form a bulk thirty-six times as large as would be 

 tlie natural result from the usual barn yard practice of most 

 fai'mers- 



The manure shed is so constructed that a cistern supplied wiih a 

 pump, is located at its lowest end, receiving the drainage of the 

 heap, which is pumpied back upon. the manure heap, by aid of a 

 spout, every two days. Should the supply of drainage be defi- 

 cient, water is passed into the cistern from the barn gutters, and 

 then pumped on to the manure heap. Every part of the mass is 

 thus kept moist without permitting the water and liquids to remain 

 in a state of rest. A rapid decomposition of the manure follows 

 this treatment. Th« atmosphere acts upon the ingredients, fol- 

 lowing the w-ater in its downward course, without producing 

 fire fanging of the manure. Prof. Mapes is of the opinion that 

 this method of managing the manure heap is preferable to turn- 

 ing it over with a fork; the admixture and decomposition is 

 more perfect. The presence of the decomposed muck secures the 

 absorption of all the gases resulting from the decomposition. 

 This renders the muck more equal in quality as a manure to the 

 excretion of the animals. 



Tlie hog pens he constructs in a similar manner. The effect is 

 to form an intimate division of th€ component parts of this ma- 

 nure, and render it suitable for garden use. 



Prof. Mapes uses large quantities of manure. His compost 

 manures are insufficient to supply the farm. He uses in addition 

 much of his improved superphosphate of lime. 



Prof. Mapes has established a manufactory of this article. Your 

 committee went through it when they visited his farm. The com- 

 position of this manure is an invention of tlie professor ; it ha« 

 been used by him fur some years past, producing extraordinary re- 

 sults. Tlie composition is strictly in accordance with the chemi- 

 cal wants of the soil. He says that this manure meets the wahti 



