63 



and greener than in the rest of the field. A mixture 

 of dry and moist stuff ought to l)e studied, because 

 the former drawing moisture from the latter ; they be- 

 come equally moist. — Stal)le dung, therefore, should 

 be carefully spread on the dunghill with other matter, 

 in order that fermentation and putrefaction may go 

 on equally; but it is a mistake to allow too much 

 fermentation, which causes a great loss of fluid, 

 and of other matter which is useful to the nourish- 

 ment of plants, of which some kinds (potatoes for 

 instance) thrive better with fresh dung — clayey soils 

 too, which retam moisture, may receive dung less 

 decomposed — but all the small seeded plants, such 

 as turnips, clover, carrots, &c, which are very tender 

 in the early stage of their growth, require to be 

 pushed forward ^vith the least possible delay by 

 means of short, rotten, dung. The time for manuring 

 a field with dung is in its highest state of pulveriza- 

 tion, immecUately before setting cabbages, sowing 

 turnips, wheat &c., and dung should be spread and 

 ploughed into the ground without delay, lest its 

 rich juices should be exhaled l)y the sun : if applied 

 as top dressing to meadows, dung should be put out 

 on the appearance of rain, which will wash the juices 

 into the ground. There is a common practice of 

 drawing out dung in or before winter, leaving it ex- 

 posed, in a loose, scattered state, to frost and snow. 

 By this the whole spirit of the dung is washed away 

 by rain, and what is left becomes dry in spring, and 

 incapable of being mixed with the mould. When 

 carried out during the frosts of winter, into the field 

 in which it is to be used, it should be carefully built 

 in dunghills of a square form, at least three or four 

 feet in height, with clay or any other cold substance 

 sprinkled or mixed through it. 



To prevent sap from running out of a dunghill, its 

 l)ottom should be below the surface of the yard ; and 

 to prevent rain from running into it, it should be sur- 

 rounded with a ring of close clay or sods. If the 



