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This is the oldest and perhaps (where available) the most popular type of organic manure. It consists of the animal excrements, both liquid and solid, and of the litter (usually straw) putdown for the animals to lie on. The value of these farmyard manures varies according to the way the animals have been fed and looked after. The value varies according to the way that the farmyard manures has been stored.
The best farmyard manure is old manure that has been made and kept under cover. If farmyard manures are left exposed to the action of the sun, the wind, and the rain for any length of time, its value may be reduced by half. The litter within the farmyard manure can play an important part in altering the value of it - farmyard manure containing peat is richer in nitrogen than a similar quantity containing straw. Farmyard manures made with sawdust or wood chippings should be avoided as it is inferior to any other kind of litter - the wood itself can be harmful as it does not rot down quickly. In comparing the manure produced by various animals, horse manure is probably more valuable than cow manure, although horse manure does lose its value if kept in the open more quickly than cow manure.
Pig and sheep manures are richer in nitrogen. If it can be obtained, any farmyard manure can be applied every year to the crops that require it. Some land will need heavier dressings than others, and a good dressing is 20 tons per acre (approximately 10lb of dung to the square yard). In the case of heavy soils, it is a good idea to dig in farmyard manure in the autumn or winter and in the case of light soils in spring. For heavy soils, straw manure is better while for light soils well-rotted material is preferred.
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