24 MAXi'RES 



their properties of liberating the plant-food in the soil, or of cor- 

 recting soil acidity, fixing ammonia, or destroying various pests. 

 Such substances are known as Indirect fertilisers, and include lime, 

 marl, gypsum, charcoal, etc. 



In applying "artificial" manures, it is well to remember that 

 seldom should more than i Ib. to the square yard be applied 

 at a time ; this is equal to over 1 ton to the acre, while 1 Ib. to 

 the square yard is over 2 tons 3 cwt. to the acre. 



ORGANIC MANURES 



Farmyard, or natural manure. By this is generally under- 

 stood the manure produced by horses, cows, or other cattle kept 

 on the estate or farm. The excrements of different animals possess 

 special fertilising properties, but for ordinary purposes farmyard 

 manures are best mixed together, both solid and liquid. The 

 liquid portion should be soaked up by the litter, so that the latter 

 may have moisture enough to allow of its decomposition, instead 

 of being left to dry, when it is rendered almost useless. Farmyard 

 manure deteriorates by violent heating, but partial decomposition 

 by slight fermentation before adding to the soil is essential in order 

 to render its constituents more soluble. It is even injurious if 

 applied in a "fresh" state, affecting both crops and the nitrates of 

 the soil. For improving the permanent fertility of soils, farmyard 

 manure is the most important of all fertilisers. In addition to its 

 manurial properties, it has valuable physical effects upon the texture 

 and water-holding, powers of the soil, and in dry seasons these may 

 count for more than fertilisers towards ensuring good crops. It 

 restores humus in the soil, gives cohesion to sandy soils, rendering 

 them more retentive of moisture and resistant to drought, and 

 renders clay soils more porous and workable. It may be assumed 

 that a ton of average well-rotted farmyard manure contains 10 to 

 12 Ib. of nitrogen, about the same of potash, and 4 to 6 Ib. of 

 phosphates. 



Stable, or Horse manure. This is called a " hot " manure 

 because, owing to its loose texture, it easily undergoes decomposi- 

 tion or fermentation, producing a high degree of heat. On this 

 account it is very liable to lose more or less of its nitrogen in the 

 form of ammonia. It is usually richer than cow manure, but more 

 liable to loss on keeping. 



Goats' dung. This is sometimes procurable in the neighbour- 

 hood of cooly lines. It is a good manure, though its action seems 



