THE CARE OF FARMYARD MANURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2950, 28 September 1910, Page 6

THE CARE OF FARMYARD MA NURE.

The method of storing farmyard manure has great influence on the final quality of the dung. No matter how rich the solid and liquid excrement majr be in the first instance, a large proportion of the valuable ingredients of the manure are liable to be lost by subsequent bad management. Whatever may be the conditions under which manure is made and stored, care should be takan to prevent loss of the liquid by drainage and overheating, which drives off much of the nitrogen from the manure. The manure from different classes of f.tock varies considerably in character and quality. Thus, horse manure is rich, dry, and in bulk quick to ferment, and overheat. On the other hand, manure from byres and piggeries is less concentrated, contains more moisture, is cold, and ferments slowly. A manure evenly rotted and of uniform composition is secured by mixing the dung from each class of stock together. It is a bad practice to keep each kind of manure in separate parts of the dung heap. The manure should be spread over as little space as possible, kept well compressed and moderately moist. In covered yards, where cattle or pigs are kept on the manure, these conditions are easily attained. Open heaps, however, require more attention, and the manure should be compressed by wheeling each barrow-load over'that already in the heap. The bottom of the heap should be covered with a layer of absorbent material, and a quantity of "such substances also kept round the heap to retain the liquid ; this material should be thrown up on the heap as it becomes saturated and then replaced by a fresh supply. The manure heap should be situated convenient to the farm buildings, and consequently the choice of a site is often restricted, 'fhe most favourable situation i.= on level ground where there is small chance of water gaining access to the heap from springs, higher ground, or roofs of buildings, or of the liquid draining away from the manure. The bottom of the heap must be impervious to liquids, and concrete or hard bricks laid on edge make excellent floors, which, in addition to being watertight, afford a hard surface for carting. A layer of Bin to 12in thick of well consolidated clay makes a cheap, and in many respects a suitable floor. Tha bottom of the heap should have a distinct slope backwards, especially when there is a retaining wall at the back against which the manure can be compactly built. If dung is solidly built, kept well compressed, and the liquid retained as described above, and provided it, receives no more water than actually falls as rain, there is little necessity for a roof over the heap. The expense of putting a roof over the dungheap is seldom justified except when it can be used as a shelter for cattle. It is \ ery desirable to have the manure-heap surrounded, with the exception of a gateway, by a retaining wall from 3ft to sft high. This will greatly assist in keeping the manure compact, and in retaining the liquid. Advantage is often taken of frosty weather during winter to cart out dung to the field to be manured the following spring. The principal advantage of this plan is that *it saves much time in the busiest season. Manure treated in this way is liable to suffer loss unless it is carefully stored in the field. A suitable situation on dry, hard ground should bo

selected for the heap, and the manure kept as compact and solid as possible. Tim is. best attained by drawing the loads of manure over the heap, finally trimming (he sides, and covering with a layer of loam *fsoiL or bog mould Bin to 12in deep to prevent the escape of nitrogen. Some absorbent materia) should also be placed round the heap to soak up the liquid. Various chemical substances have been used to prevent, the nitrogen escaping from farmyard manure in the form of ammonia gas ; none of these materials, however, has been found to be of much practical value, and their use is not recommended. Ordinary loamy soil is the cheapest and most efficacious absorbent of ammonia and liquid manure. A thin layer of such material should be spread over the heap from time to time. The liquid manure may be utilised to advantage by mixing it with the solid dung ; by this means the whole manure is improved, and there is less risk of overheating in the heap. The supply of liquid manure is often creater than can be used in this v ay, and some means must then be «'evised for aeahng with the fiirplus. A common plan is to collect the liquid in an underground tank near the manure-heap and to periodically pump it into a liquid nii'iiure cart for use as a top-dressing for grass. Where conditions are favourable for irrigation, the surplus liquid manure may be used in this way. Fresh liquid manure has a burning effect on plants, and should, therefore, be allowed to remain in i.he tank several weeks before application.