1920. ] Farmyard Manure : Its Making and Use. 



449 



too early as yet to say whether the material will work out 

 econoniieally in practice, but the principle is sound : it consists 

 in allowing; the straw to decompose with formation of humus, and 

 supplyi]i<^ the necessary nitroojen compound in the form of vn 

 ammonium salt. When the details are worked out the method 

 may probably prove of interest in districts like the Eothin<^s. in 

 Essex, where quantities of straw are produced but no liv? stock 

 is kept, and yet where farmyard manure ought to be used. 



Possibilities of Improvement. — The possibilities of improving 

 bullock manure lie in the following directions : — 



1. To make it in a covered yard, having sufficient beasts to 

 keep the manure moist. 



2. To put it into the ground as soon as possible after the 

 beasts are removed; but, if this is impossible, to make a tight 

 clamp and provide some shelter by a layer of earth or by some 

 other device. 



3. To avoid washing by rain or exposure to weather. 



The defects of the clamp, even when compacted and shel- 

 tered, are recognised, and science has not yet said the last word 

 as to the storage of manure ; but for the present it is the only 

 practicable method. 



The improvement of manure from cowsheds can be effected : — 



1. By collecting the liquid separately in a cement tank. 



2. By storing the solid in a covered dungstead, to which can 

 also be added manure from the horses. It is necessarv to 

 compact the heap. Provision must also be made for a tank to 

 collect drainage. 



The appHcation of the Hquid to the land, however, is a diffi- 

 cult problem. The method of distributing the liquid over the 

 farm by means of pipes has been tried, but has resulted in finan- 

 cial loss. Something can be done bv delivery from carts, but the 

 most helpful line is the use of absorbents, which is now being 

 investigated at Eothamsted. This is an important problem, and 

 it will grow in importance if the soiling system of keeping dairy 

 cows develops in this country. 



