Covered Cattle Yards. 
489 
to that made in open ones. This results from two causes — 
concentration and conservation. In Open Yards the components 
of the mixture are the excreta of cattle, straw, and rain-water. 
Under cover the first two only are comprised in it. Moreover, 
as much less straw is used, the excreta bear a larger proportion 
to it, and especially when nitrogenous foods are used — rendering 
the manure, weight for weight, more concentrated and richer in 
fertilising matter. 
And, having got this valuable manure, cover tends to its 
perfect preservation until the time arrives for applying it to 
the soil ; whereas in Open Yards the results of exposure and 
repeated washings by rain cause great deterioration, and involve 
the loss of the most valuable constituents of manure. 
In an experiment made by the late Dr. Voelcker he found 
that farmyard manure, after twelve months' exposure in an Open 
Yard, had lost nearly all the nitrogen and 78*2 per cent, of its 
soluble mineral matters. In round numbers two-thirds of the 
dung was wasted, and only one-third left behind. This may 
seem rather a startling statement to make, but Dr. Voelcker's 
well-known practical knowledge, and the care and accuracy with 
which all his experiments were conducted, entitle any conclusion 
he arrived at to great consideration. 
In practice probably so great a loss would seldom occur, as 
the bulk of the manure made on a farm would not be more than 
eight months in the yard. Yet many practical men may be 
found who estimate the loss at quite one half, or, more strictly 
speaking, value what is made in Covered Yards at double that 
made in open ones. For comparison, however, I will not go so 
far, but may safely put the increase of value at one half — that is, 
if manure made in Open Yards is worth 3s. 6d., the other is 
worth 5s. 3d., per ton. 
The quantity of manure made by a medium-sized beast in a 
Covered Yard during the winter months may be taken at 8 tons, 
which, at an increased value of Is. 9d., gives a gain in product 
per head for that period of 14s. 
If the above is correct, it follows that, to obtain equal results, 
1£ ton of Open-yard manure must be applied for every ton of 
that made under cover, costing in labour half as much more, 
provided the conditions of application are alike. But they are 
not alike, for, as practical men well know, the latter may be 
drawn from the yard, and applied direct to the land for any 
description of crop. Not so the former : the large proportion of 
straw in its composition renders it unsuitable for direct applica- 
tion, more especially for turnip crops, and a cartage to heap, 
turning, refilling, recarting, and re-emptying are indispensable, 
VOL. I. T. S.— 3 K K 
