142 THE FAMILY HOUSE. 



mixes more evsnly with the droppings, causing less fermentation 

 and heating in the manure heap. It is more conveniently handled 

 with the dung fork and shovel, and it decomposes more rapidly 

 when applied to crojis. Seaweed makes excellent litter, while saw- 

 dust and clear sand answer tolerably. Some recommend common 

 earth, but it beco:ne3 muddy when wet, and badly soils the horse, 

 and makes it uncomfortable. A gutter in the stable floor in rear 

 of the horse is unnecessary to carry off the urine, where plenty of 

 litter is used, as this absorbs and saves about all the salts, and it is 

 an ugly thing for the horse to step in. 



STORAGE OF MANURE. 



A good method for keeping manure is to lay a cement or 

 plank floor at a convenient distance from the stable, with a 

 water-tight rim raised a few inches aU around. Cover this with 

 a roof sufficiently high for a man to stand under when the pile is 

 finished. Haul out the manure as fast as made in the stable, and 

 dump it here in even layers about six inches deep, and let it lie till 

 wanted for the crops. No drainage can come from this, and to pre- 

 vent loss of ammonia, scatter plaster of Paris about half an inch 

 thick over every layer as fast as made. This, aside from fixing the 

 ammonia, will add more tlian its cost to the value of the manure. 

 If there is any danger of firing, a little peat, muck, turf, or good 

 soil spread over each layer will prevent it. But when the land is 

 tolerably level, so that drainage from it cannot run oflE, there is no 

 necessity of storing manure, at least from early autumn till late in 

 spring, as it may be carted as fast as made and spread broadcast on 

 meadows and fields to be cultivated for the next season's crop. The 

 little waste of ammonia in th3 air from this exposure is more than 

 compensated by the manure getting well rotted, and covering the 

 ground during winter. This is the cheapest way to dispose of 

 roaniu-e, as it is only once handled, and the work is performed 

 mainly in winter, when there is little else to do. Manure may be 

 kept in the open air also with little loss in heaps, by first spread- 

 ing hay, straw or seaweed a foot thick on the ground, and jDiling 

 the manure over this as it is taken from the stable. The thick 

 underlayer preserves the salts washed down by the rain or melted 

 snow, as I have proved by frequent trials, and these two last assist 

 in nicely rotting it by spring. Some let their manure accumulate 

 and lie on the stable floor all winter ; but this makes so soft and 

 damp a bed for the horse to stand on, as to become injurious to the 

 hoofs, and, although spread out evenly and well littered, there wUl 

 be a more or less offensive and unhealthy smeU from it, particularly 



