Year: 1864




Manures act upon the soil in three ways
They either supply plant food directly to the


solid or indirectly furnish it by making


available that which may exist in the soil or


they change the character Of the soil SO that


barren ground becomes fertile-not by the ad-


dition of plant food, but of something which


makes soil fit for the roots of plants. Most
manures act in all these ways, but by far the
most common action is the first mentioned,
namely, supplying food directly to the grow
| ing plant The manure from stables COW
yards, and hog-pens, when applied to the soil
in its fresh state, must undergo fermentation,
| and even decompose quite thoroughly before
it is available as plant food. During the pro-
gress of this fermentation the plant derives
some benefit in several ways, but the effects
are much better, in most cases, when the
manure is applied after it is well rotted, that
is, when fermentation, and in fact decay, has
progressed so far that the mass admits of be-
ing worked over to a uniform consistence.


Manure consisting of solid and liquid excre-
ments of domestic animals with litter, if
thrown into heap, soon heats, and this heat
is sometimes intense. Spontaneous combustion
even has taken place, which could be account
ed for in no other way. The great heat of
common hot-bed is well known In this con-
dition the valuable qualities of the manure will
waste rapidly. '...t


If the same manure be completely piled up,
Or in any way subjected to great pressure, all
fermentation ceases, provided only the usual
amount Of moisture be presented. This may
be seen wherever a cattle path crosses the
manure heap, or where cattle are allowed to
stand on their manure, as is some times prac-
'tised, The conditions necessary to decay or
fermentation are 1st, air I'd, moisture
3D.. some warmth. Practically, there is al
ways warmth enough when the manure is not
actually frozen. There is also abundance of
air if the mass is not subjected to asgreat pres
sure. a-E l.


The great desideratum is, so to regulate the
supply of moisture from substances which be-
fore were dry. Breaking up the fermenting
mass, and again packing it, checks the fer
mentaiion, and considerable time is required
before it starts well again, and this is one Of the
best ways of making the manure rot uniformi-
ly. When the heap is built up with perpen-
dicular sides, and 50 that water may be leach
ed through it, excellent quality of manure may
be produced by having pump rugged to
throw the liquids OF the stable over the entire
mass, saturating all parts The stable liquids,
with the teachings of the heap, is best collect
ed in hogshead or tank sank in the ground
near by. The liquid thus flowing over the
heap, vets Gil parts, is absorbed to a consider
able extent, imparts renewed activity to the
of the strawy parts, checks the
too violent fermentation Of the richer portion
by washing out the more soluble matter, and
at the sane time it renders the whole mass
more uniform in character. .,z.-


Almost all fermentation ceases when ma.
nure is submerged in water, or is very wet
The addition to stable manure, if inert veget-
able substance in large quantities, like muck,
checks fermentation somewhat, but after
While it starts again, and the increase in the
'ulk of manure will also be found to be very
,reat addition to its value.