On the Agriculture of the Netherlands. 



57 



which are washed clean twice a day, for which purpose a pump is 

 an essential appendage to a cow-house. There is generally a 

 deep gutter along the wall behind the cows, into which the water 

 and urine drain, the ground sloping gently towards it. The tank 

 is either immediately under the stable, well vaulted over, or it is 

 so near that all the liquid readily runs into it through a covered 

 drain. The heads of the cows are towards the middle of the 

 stable, and their tails over the gutter along the wall. The width 

 of the Iniilding admits of two rows of cows, facing each other, 

 with a space between them sufficiently wide to admit a small cart 

 to bring the food to them. This is universally the form of a 

 cow-house in Holland. The liquid in the tank is allowed to go 

 through the first stages of fermentation, during which the caustic 

 portion of the urine is rendered mild, and the liquor is better 

 adapted to be taken up by the fibres of the roots. In order that 

 there may be a regular succession of liquid, in a proper state for 

 use, there are partitions in the tanks, and, by means of small 

 flood-gates in the drain which leads to it, the fresh accumulation 

 may be directed to any one of the pits thus formed, while the 

 ripe liquor may be pumped up into tubs or barrels set on wheels, 

 to be conveyed to the land. There are means of accelerating or 

 retarding the fermentation, according to the time when the liquor 

 is wanted. Stirring and admitting the air assist the process, 

 while the addition of earth, peat, or ashes, and keeping out the 

 air, retard it. The efficacy of the liquid is much increased by 

 adding oil-cakc;, the residue of rape-seed when the oil has been 

 pressed out, and other vegetable substances. This is usually 

 done a short time before it is put on the land, as it would other- 

 wise ferment too much. 



We have already mentioned the Compost- Heaps. These are 

 chiefly made of the dung and litter of the horses and pigs, 

 kept moderately moist, and mixed with every kind of refuse 

 vegetable matter, with the addition of mould from ditches and 

 the sods taken from open drains in pastures. This is generally 

 put on the land in an active state of fermentation, and imme- 

 diately ploughed in ; sometimes the small heaps laid out of the 

 carts at regular distances in the field are moistened with liquid 

 manure, to excite a fresh action ; and, as soon as they begin to 

 heat, the dung is spread and ploughed in. It would appear from 

 this, that it has been found to decay more rapidly in the earth, 

 when put in hot, than when the fermentation is already subdued, 

 which might be anticipated in the sandy soils. 



The Instruments of Tillage are few and simple. — The Plough 

 in the first cut is short, with a straight horizontal beam, and a single 

 stilt or horn placed nearly upright. Near the end of this stilt a 

 small piece projects (a), which, taken in the hand, enables the 



