Mr.  Hannam  on  Waste  Manures. 
439 
Note. 
On  the  Formation  of  Tanks ; extracted  from  Mr.  Hannam’ s Paper 
on  Waste  Manures. — Journal  of  Yorkshire  Agricultural  Society, 
No.  6. 
“ Mr.  H.  S.  Thompson,  of  Kirby  Hall,  at  the  late  meeting  of  the  York- 
shire Agricultural  Society,  at  Doncaster,  recommended  the  plan  he  adopted, 
which  was  ‘ to  have  a pit  dug  in  the  earth  in  which  to  throw  the  manure, 
instead  of  having  it  piled  up  on  a heap.  The  bottom  of  the  pit  is  water- 
tight, and  has  a slope  towards  the  centre,  where  a tank  is  placed  so  as  to 
receive  the  drainings  from  the  manure.  These  drainings  are  frequently 
poured  over  the  manure,  so  as  to  keep  up  a regular,  but  not  excessive  fer- 
mentation. He  was  in  the  habit  of  collecting  all  the  couch-grass,  stubble, 
and  other  vegetable  refuse  which  the  farm  afforded,  and  spreading  it  on 
the  bottom  of  the  pit  to  the  depth  of  six  or  eight  inches.  This,  when 
well  soaked  with  the  liquor  that  drained  from  the  manure  which  was  carted 
upon  it,  and  fermented  together  with  that  manure,  was,  he  believed,  as 
good  as  any  other  portion  of  the  heap.  In  this  way  he  had  last  year  on  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres  of  arable  land  increased  his  manure  by  two 
hundred  single-horse  loads,  which  was  equivalent  to  four  additional  loads 
per  acre  for  his  fallow  crops.  If  the  manure  was  wanted  for  immediate 
use,  it  should  be  lightly  thrown  together,  and  after  being  well  soaked  with 
tank  liquor,  have  a thin  covering  of  soil  to  absorb  the  gases  which  would 
otherwise  escape.  In  this  case  it  must  be  carefully  watched  and  well 
watered,  from  time  to  time,  to  prevent  the  fermentation  from  becoming 
excessive.  If  the  manure  is  to  be  kept  six  months  or  more,  it  should  be 
made  solid  by  carting  over  it,  and  have  a thick  covering  of  soil,  which 
would  nearly  exclude  the  air.  In  this  way  manure  may  be  preserved  for 
a year  almost  without  loss.  In  very  dry  weather,  the  drainings  from  the 
manure  are  not  sufficient  to  keep  it  moist,  and  it  becomes  necessary  to 
saturate  it  with  some  other  liquid.  If  the  farmer  has  other  tanks  on  his 
premises,  it  would  be  better  to  use  their  contents  for  this  purpose  ; but 
where  such  are  not  at  hand,  plain  water  may  be  used,  and  has  been  found 
to  answer  exceedingly  well.’ 
“ Having  had  the  pleasure  of  examining  this  process,  I may  add  in  ex- 
planation, that  the  pit  is  merely  an  excavation,  similar  to  a shallow  gravel 
quarry,  one  side  being  sloped  away  for  the  purpose  of  convenience  in 
emptying  it  of  manure  ; — hence  the  cost  would  be  slight.  In  some  situa- 
tions the  gravel  taken  out  would  pay  for  the  labour,  in  others  the  soil 
would  be  of  great  use,  for  the  purpose  of  covering  the  manure  (when  in- 
tended to  be  kept  fresh),  or  as  an  absorbent  for  the  liquid  and  gaseous 
waste. 
“ Mr.  Thompson’s  pit  is  so  formed  that  the  liquid  filters  gradually  into  a 
snail  well  or  tank,  at  the  bottom  of  the  excavation, — this  tank  being 
merely  a cutting,  about  six  feet  deep,  six  long,  and  three  wide.  Of  course, 
when  the  compost  is  made  in  the  pit,  the  tank  is  left  uncovered,  the 
manure  being  piled  round  it,  so  that  the  liquid  may  be  laded  out  and 
spread  upon  the  compost.  When  the  manure  has  to  remain  in  the  pit  for 
a length  of  lime,  it  is  generally  covered  with  soil  and  other  absorbent 
matters,  by  which  means  it  is  kept  fresh.  Indeed,  so  well  is  the  object 
effected,  and  all  gaseous  escape  prevented,  that  nine  out  of  ten  individuals 
would  walk  over  the  pit  without  knowing  that  there  was  such  a store  of 
rich  manure  under  their  feet. 
“ Mr.  T.  has  also  a capacious  tank,  in  which  the  liquid  from  the  sheds 
and  the  yard  is  collected.  This  tank,  however,  is  totally  unconnected  with 
the  compost  pit. 
