344 



[Oct. 1906. 



SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE. 



THE CONSERVATION OF CATTLE MANURE. 



The attention given to the conservation of farmyard manure in France is 

 one of the striking things noted in his travels by an agricultural correspondent. 

 "In the yard near the stock buildings on one of the farms visited " he writes, 

 "is a brick enclosure in constructed cement on the inner side. Beneath this, and 

 in the centre, is a large tank into which the urine from the different buildings 

 is conveyed by drainage. The tank is covered by an iron grille, above which the 

 manure is stacked, the heap having vertical sides, and being built from day to day 

 with every care. Above is a roof to keep off the rain, while in the very centre 

 of the heap, and rising from the tank, is a pump. In the natural order of things 

 the manure is wheeled from stable, piggery and cattle shed on to the heap, and 

 carefully spread, so that each form of manure is well mixed, and the quality of 

 the heap equalised as far as possible. From time to time the urine within the 

 tank is pumped over the heap, which is kept well soaked and cool, and in this way, 

 although some loss may occur by volatilisation, the heap is kept from fermenting 

 too rapidly, while the liquid is largely absorbed." Commenting upon the almost 

 universal attention given to the saving of farmyard manure in France, this corre- 

 spondent thus refers to its exceptional value : — 



"The value of this manure does not consist alone in the proportion of 

 fertilising matter which it contains. Farmyard, unlike artificial manures, possesses 

 two values, the one fertilising, the other mechanical. The mechanical condition 

 of a loamy soil is known to be such that crops can be grown upon it with greater 

 ease and success, while it absorbs less labour than a heavy soil. Many clays have 

 great crop growing capacity, but only in proportion to the labour and the farmyard 

 manure bestowed upon them. The fine mechanical condition of a loam is chiefly 

 owing to the high percentage of organic matter which it contains. Add the same 

 quantity of organic matter to a clay and its crop-growing value is at once improved, 

 and improved to a considerable extent. It is for this reason that this manure, 

 which is chiefly composed of organic matter, is of such great importance to heavy 

 lands. Clay soils are almost useless until they have been pulverised, but even then 

 their value is little until they have been well and repeatedly dressed with farmyard 

 manure, which prevents excessive tenacity, permits the entrance of air and water, 

 adds warmth, and generally conduces to the crop-bearing capaciuy of the soil. 

 As the straw and other organic matter in the manure slowly decomposes, the 

 fertility it contains is liberated ; while during the decomposition heat is evolved, 

 and heat is of great importance to plant life. What has been said applies equally 

 to the lighter soils, for just as farmyard manure reduces the tenacity and heavy 

 condition of clays, so it conduces to the homogeneity of the lighter soils, which 

 are too loose, too pervious to water, and too lightly furnished with decomposing 

 material. " — i". P. Gazette. 



