440 
Mr.  Hannam  on  Waste  Manures. 
“ Of  the  various  plans  which  we  have  examined,  Mr.  Thompson’s  is 
most  entitled  to  our  notice.  And  this  not  merely  because  it  is  in  practical 
operation,  and  has  shown  beneficial  results  of  which  we  have  abundant 
evidence,  but  because  it  is  calculated  to  secure  each  of  the  advantages 
flowing  from  the  other  methods,  without  their  disadvantages.  For  in- 
stance, it  affords  us  the  means,  not  only  of  collecting  the  waste  fertilizers, 
but  also  of  preserving  them,  and  of  using  them  in  conformity  with  the 
principle  best  adapted  to  English  agriculture,  viz.,  that  of  concentrating 
them  as  far  as  possible  in  our  farm  yard  compost,  or  using  them  singly,  at 
option. 
“ In  the  modus  operandi  of  this  plan  there  are,  however,  certain  defects. 
They  do  not  belong  to  the  system,  but  are  errors  of  arrangement,  and  as 
such  may  be  remedied.  One  of  these  errors  is  in  the  position  and  locality 
of  the  liquid  manure  tank,  which  is  at  some  distance  from  the  compost- 
pit,  Owing  to  this  circumstance  the  solid  manure  is  only  saturated  with 
the  liquid  that  it  brings  with  it  from  the  yard,  except  at  the  expense  of  extra 
cartage  from  the  tank.  In  cases,  therefore,  when  the  drainings  from  the 
pit  are  not  sufficient  to  moisten  the  compost,  (a  circumstance  which  Mr. 
Thompson  states  does  happen,)  or  when  we  may  have  a quantity  of  dry 
vegetable  matter,  which  is  slow  of  decomposition,  to  form  into  compost, 
we  must  either  take  the  trouble  of  frequently  carrying  the  liquid  from  the 
tank  to  the  pit  or  (what  may  be  equally  troublesome,  and  must  be  always 
a bad  practice,  when  liquid  from  the  yard  can  by  any  means  be  obtained) 
adopt  Mr.  T.’s  own  alternative,  and  1 use  plain  water.' 
“ Were  the  tank  formed  near  the  pit,  this  evil  would  be  removed  ;*  the 
drainings  from  the  fold-yard  would  be  quite  sufficient  for  saturating  the 
eompost,  and  the  work  would  be  performed  with  little  trouble.  It  may 
be  said  that  nothing  can  be  done  without  trouble,  and  that  the  carriage  of 
the  liquid  would  be  amply  repaid  in  this  case.  This  may  be  true  ; but  let 
it  not  be  forgotten,  that,  strictly  speaking,  if  we  are  ever  so  well  remu- 
nerated for  spending  a week  over  any  work,  we  are  much  better  paid  if 
by  any  means  we  can  perform  it  in  half  the  time.  But  it  is  not  on  this 
account  that  unnecessary  trouble  is  objectionable  in  a plan  like  this,  but 
because  it  too  often  leads  to  more  serious  evils.  Thus,  say  we  have  a compost 
requiring  frequent  applications  of  the  liquid,  and  it  is  a work  demanding 
a little  extra  preparation  ; it  is  perhaps  accomplished  once  properly  ; next 
time,  however,  it  may  happen  that  we  are  busy,  and  it  is  hurried  over,  and 
only  half  done ; on  the  next  occasion,  perhaps,  time  cannot  be  found  to 
attempt  to  do  it ; and  so  on,  till  at  last  it  is  forgotten  altogether.  We  do 
not  say  that  this  would  be  a common  case;  when,  however,  we  can  so 
easily  prevent  the  probability  of  it  happening  at  all,  it  is  our  duty  so 
to  do. 
“ Having  now  seen  upon  what  principle  our  system  of  economy  should 
be  based,  and  how  far  the  various  measures  proposed  are  calculated  to 
carry  out  that  principle,  we  are  in  a situation  to  say  how,  and  by  what  par- 
ticular means,  that  object  may  be  generally  effected,  and  the  waste  manure 
of  every  farm  properly  economised.  To  accomplish  this  thoroughly  will 
require  an  arrangement  more  comprehensive  than  any  yet  detailed.  A 
careful  examination,  however,  of  the  advantages  and  disadvantages  of  the 
preceding  plans  warrants  us  in  asserting  that  it  may  be  done,  both  effec- 
tually and  economically,  by  attending  to  the  following  suggestions  : — 
“ 1.  Let  all  the  buildings  round  the  farmyard  and  strawl'olds  be  spouted, 
* Mr.  Hannam’s  criticism  is  just;  but  the  arrangement  he  complains  of  could  not, 
in  my  case,  be  avoided,  as  my  tanks  were  made  before  I bad  even  conceived  the  idea 
of  making  a manure  pit,  and  the  ground  would  not  admit  of  the  manure  pit  being 
made  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  tanks. — H.  S.  1’. 
