Farming of South Wales. 



163 



so that all the manure will receive an equal pressure. The 

 droppings of the young cattle, often met with in large quantities 

 under the pasture -fences, might be collected and spread about 

 the court, which would increase the amount of animal excrement 

 so much wanted, as most frequently the common manure is not 

 much more than rotten straw. It is not recommended, even for 

 light and porous soils, to turn manure heaps more than once. 

 Every practical farmer knows (and chemistry confirms our expe- 

 rience) " that farm -yard manure begins to lose its most valuable 

 properties as soon as ever fermentation commences." When 

 manure is carted very early in the season, it should be placed 

 upon a bottom composed of earth not less than six inches deep. 

 Of course the carts should be drawn over the heap, and all care- 

 fully spread. The manure cannot be too well mixed; and that 

 from the fat cattle, the cows, and the horses should be placed in 

 alternate layers. When the heap is completed it should be well 

 covered with ashes, road-scrapings, or any mould, and thus no 

 evaporation or fermentation will take place. For all soils it 

 should not be turned over more than a fortnight before required 

 for use, and then well cased with the mould that was below. 

 When dung late in the season is required for immediate use, should 

 the yards not be wanted, it can be packed up there in a heap, 

 covered with the earth's lining before recommended, and it will be 

 ready to be applied to the land in about ten days. In both cases 

 fermentation will then have taken place, sufficiently to kill the 

 seeds of weeds and the larvee of insects,* without losing any 

 quantity of ammonia. Experiments have proved that plants 

 flourish most luxuriantly when exposed to the influence of matter 

 disengaged by fermentation. Although it may be contended 

 that well rotted dung is more soluble, and therefore more easily 

 taken up by the young turnip, persons of a contrary opinion think 

 that the gases given off by the fermentation of manure in the 

 soil are more easily applied to the wants of the infant plant. 

 At any rate, by repeated turnings this is all lost, and there can be 

 no doubt that well rotted manure is not so lasting in its effects as 

 the other. 



One of the evils of the life leases is the large amount of capital 

 the tenant sets fast on his entry by building, &c. ; and another is 

 felt by the landlord, who finds it impossible to rid his estate of a 

 slovenly or bad farmer. But a tenant farming from year to year 

 cannot be expected to improve permanently the property he hires : 

 he neglects to expend his capital, lest good crops should bring 

 increased rent or loss of the occupation. If there is an objection 



* In addition to grubs, the egg of the wheat-midge and other insects that prey upon 

 the cereal crops are deposited in the husk and straw of corn, and will therefore, it is 

 supposed, be destroyed by fermentation. 



M 2 



