PEEPAKATIOX OF THE MANURE. 71 



tiou has started briskly, which in early fall may be in 

 two 01- tliree days, or in winter in six to ten days, then 

 turn it over again, shaking it up thoroughly and loosely 

 and keeping what was outside before inside now, and 

 what was inside before toward the outside now ; and if 

 there are any unduly dry parts moisten them as you go 

 along. I'rim up the heap into the same shape as you 

 had before, and again tread it down firmly. This com- 

 pacting of tiiC pile at every turning reduces the number 

 of required turnings. When hot manure is turned and 

 thrown loosely into a pile it regains its great heat so 

 rapidly that it will need turning again within twenty- 

 four hours, in order to save it from burning, and all 

 practicul men know that at every turning ammonia is 

 wasted, — the most potent food of the mushroom. We 

 should tlierefore endeavor to get along with as few turn- 

 ings as possible ; at the same time, never allow any part 

 of the manure to burn, even if we have to turn the heap 

 every day. These turnings sliould be continued until 

 the manure has lost its tendency to heat violently, and 

 its hot, rank smell is gone, — usually in about three 

 weeks' time. If the manure, or any part of it, is too 

 dry at any turning, the dry part should be sprinkled 

 with water and kept in the middle of the heap. Plain 

 water is what is generally used for moistening the ma- 

 nure, but I sometimes use liquid from the stable tanks, 

 which not only answers the purpose of wetting the dry 

 materials, but it also is a powerful stimulant and wel- 

 come addition to the manure. But the greatest vigilance 

 should be observed to guard against overmoistening the 

 manure ; far better fail on the side of dryness than on 

 that of wetness. 



If the manure is too wet to begin with it should be 

 spread out thinly and loosely and exposed to sun and 

 wind, if practicable, to dry. Drying by exposure in 

 this way is not as enervating as "burning" in a hot 



