The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-10-15
for the farmer.
LOCATING A BARN.YARD.

We have seen harn-yarls with a stream of wat
OF running through them for the convenience OF
the cattle drink. This, indeed saves the troub-
h of driving the cattle to water, aud It also saves
the trouble of cartipg away much manure. Wat
er should lie brought to the stock, but it should
M; I,, perTnitted at the same time to carry OF
half the manure. The size of the yard should be
pruportioned TO the amount of stock kept, and
It's shape similar to shallow bowl. The barn
bcjng Furnished with eaye-trOughs, more
water will be collected in the yard than is neces-
sarv for the fermentation of the manure.
All rocks aud stones must he removed, and II
the soil is of eachy nature, 1t should be fur-
nished with smooth coating of clay, both Tor
tbe purpOse of retaining the liquids and furnish
iup a smooth surface for the shOveler. 1t ought
10 be added that the yard should face The souih,
both As a protection from the wind and that the
stock NAV feel the vitalizing influence oil sun
shine and the manure its decomposinS power
ON the bottom of this bowlshaped yard thin
Iayrr (say six inches tlhrk) of mnck, leaf m0ud,
or surface soil, should be deposited as an aosor-
bent; and when the excrements nave become
we'll incorporated with this, another laye sno"lo
he furnished We know that II is SAID by some
tbat the manure is increased in bulk but not IN
yaIne nv this operation of composing; that all
the virtue is in the manure, aud the more con
csntrated we can get 1t the better. As well
,niybt IL be said that all the virtue N IN the Hour
"a there is no need of composing it into bread.
hoes not little Ieaven leaven the whole lump!
Manure goes through process of fermentation
simila /; changed. There is no ale bol IN the
fresh Juice of the apple, and there is no free
ammonia. The increased value of the manure is
not owing merely to the gases being absorbed
which otherwise would have been disspated; but
Inv the combined action of heat, air, light and
moisture s, me chemical changes are produced,
aid the whole rendered fit food for vegetation
II is a fundamental law with the skiful hus-
bandman that none of the gases of the manure
heap must be allowed to escape, and the law IS
simply enforced by these successive layers of
muck or turf, thus adding to the wealth of the
farm and the health of the family. The muck
acts not only as absorbent, but contains IN IT.
self theelements of fertility, and by coming in
contact with the putrescent manure the process
of decay in the muck itself is hastened, much IN
the same way one rotten apple generates de-
cav among its fellows, one sheep with the foot
rot spreads disease through the whole flock.
This influence of cOntact-catalytic, as the che
mists call it's wonderful, and furnishes the key
for the indefinite increase of the compost heap.
Some, indeed, affirm that this composing may be
more economically done in the field by cartlng
the fresh manure and blowing it under The
catalytic influence is exerted to some extent IN
this manner and the decay of vegetable matter
in the soil is hastened but, scattered as the ma
nure is there is little opportunity ior gsheIa'lne
heat and fermentation in comparison win tne
large nile Scattered over such large space the
manure can only do picket duty.