Farmyard Manure. 



295 



Where these heaps must be formed they should be placed on 

 firm, level ground, and they should be made as deep and firm 

 as possible. The so-called " draw heaps," on to which each 

 cart-load is drawn, thereby consolidating the mass, are the best- 

 Subsequently the sides are trimmed up, and the whole should 

 be covered with a layer of soil or ashes about a foot thick. 

 Such a covering consolidates the mass, prevents to some extent 

 ammonia rising into the air, and runs off rain water. 



When dung comes to be spread on the land, it should be dis- 

 tributed as equally as possible. Sometimes, unfortunately, one 

 sees great lack of care in this respect. In some districts dung is 

 roughly spread straight from the cart, the finishing touches being 

 subsequently given. In other districts, and more frequently, it 

 is laid down in small heaps about six yards apart. If it is 

 immediately spread, no objection can be taken to the system, 

 though it may be said that if the dung is very old, and especially 

 if it is largely made from moss litter, the spots on which the 

 heaps rest are apt to be left over-manured, and especially is this 

 the case on rough meadows. Too often one sees these small 

 heaps lying for days, and even for weeks, unspread, with the 

 result that the rain washes " the goodness " from the dung into 

 the patches on which the heaps rest. These patches are con- 

 sequently over-manured, whereas the rest of the field, being 

 supplied with impoverished dung, suffers from insufficient 

 nourishment. 



With farmyard manure, even more than with artificials, the 

 farmer should so arrange matters that the quantity of dung at 

 his disposal is distributed over as large an area as is consistent 

 with practical convenience. For instance, twenty tons of dung 

 spread equally on two acres will give a much better return 

 than the same quantity spread on one acre, and yet this rule 

 is often neglected. 



As regards the time of year when dung should be applied, much 

 depends on the circumstances ol the particular case. By far the 

 greater quantity of dung goes on to meadows and green crops 

 and it may be said that in the former case autumn or early 

 winter is the best time to make the application. The complete 

 stocking of the ground with plants obviates much loss of soluble 

 matters by washing. On farms entirely under grass there is no 



