The Farmer,

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 May 1911, Page 4

The Farmer,

A REAL FRIEND. | Few materials on the farm are more valuable than stable maniu'e. It is a real friend. It is a governor of the income; but it is often neglected, as many of its qualities escape, and are lost in the rubbishlike way it is allowed to tumble about the yards. The man who is careful of "his manure heap is never a loser. It ought to be regarded and treated as of first importance. Amongst the various ways they depreciate, none are more destructive than allowing the materials to ferment and heat so excessively that the nature is burned out of a lot of them. This is a common occurrence, and an exceedingly foolish toleration. It is without explanation or excuse. Stable manure! is the < most apt to heat, but all sorts do so more or less. The first indication of it is when the heap emits steam like smoke from ■& chimney. If the.heap is turned or the source dug into, it will be-found that the material in the warmest part is very White and mouldy, or indeed ashy. *The quantity is reduced, and so is the quality. If this burnt stuff is dug into the soil by itself -and, observation kept, it will soon become apparent that the 'burned dung is very unfertilising. It has neither life nor nutriment to any extent, and is completely spoiled. If the burned dung is mixed with the ivn- - burned it will be more helpful, but the. properties of the whole are reduced. Excessive heating must not be.allowed. Averting it is a tremendous saving. Keep an eye on. it constantly. As each lot begins to steam and give indications of being very hot, turn it all over; let the warmth and steam escape, and mix in a lot of unheated. This will tone the temperature down beyond doing harm, and turning and 1 mixing will do the whole of the dung more good # than I can well explain, but conspicuous benefits will show themselves.