42 
MANURES. 
tainly is a misfortune to the farmer, who generally 
keeps his cattle up only in winter; i ut then it is an 
argument also for the practice of summer soiling. 
Secondly, with respect to the circumstances neces¬ 
sary to change urea to ammonia; or, in short words, 
to fully ripen urine, or to make it a fit manure. These 
also depend upon the season, in part. It is to be re¬ 
membered, reader, that this rotting of urine is only 
fermentation. It takes place, because there is a prin¬ 
ciple in urine which brings on fermentation, just as it 
does in new cider. Now if it is by fermentation that 
urine rots, it will take place, as all fermentation does, 
best at a moderate temperature. The cold of winter 
will prevent it. Hence your winter manure must be 
allowed time, as the heat of spring comes on, to fer¬ 
ment, that the urine may be changed to ammonia; 
and every means must be taken to prevent the heat 
rising beyond, in the manure heap, or falling below a 
moderate temperate warmth. These are the circum¬ 
stances which chiefly promote the change from urea 
to ammonia. 
Thirdly, in regard to the time in which this change 
will take place, it will require at least one month; 
and six weeks are better. If urine be allowed to rot 
for a month, it fully doubles its quantity of ammonia. 
In fact, it would have contained more than double the 
ammonia of fresh urine, had not a portion escaped. 
This brings us to our fourth point, the best mode of 
preventing the flying off of the ammonia when this 
change has taken place. Much has been said about 
tanks, and vats, and urine pits, and many plans de¬ 
vised for preventing the escape of volatile ammonia. 
But when once the action of ammonia upon mould is 
understood, as we have already pointed it out, I am 
persuaded, reader, that these tanks, and vats, and 
urine carts will appear to you not only expensive and 
cumbersome, but useless. Your first point is, to save 
your ammonia; your second is neve^ to use urine in 
its caustic or burning state If you do, you will as 
