Manure... An interesting fact

Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before the invention of commercial fertilizers, so large shipments of manure were
quite common.

It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, not only did it become heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by product is methane gas of course. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen.

Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM!

Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening.

After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the instruction ' Stow high in transit ' on them, which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane.


Thus evolved the term ' S.H.I.T ' , (Stow High In Transit) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.
You probably did not know the true history of this word.
Neither did I.
I had always thought it was a golf term!

Interesting - why then is it considered a cuss word ??  Not that I do -- but our society does..

Gard, Are you aware that this year, in PA, we all need manure management plans? Horse owners with only a few horses used to be exempt. Now, if you have even 1 horse, or a 4-H goat, etc, you need a manure management plan. No more than 2000 lbs of animal per acre of spreading, can't be within so many feet of a stream, and we have to keep track of when, where and how many tons of manure were spread. My husband picked up the information, so I'm going to let him figure out our plan for SHIT (Stow High In Transit)!!

No, I did not know about the plans. Our current manure disposal for four horses, includes fertiliizing our neighbours' gardens and our pastures. We keep a small plie that is allowed to rot for the boss's plants, and those of her friends. In exchange, all summer long we are the recipients of numerous home grown garden products.

Our stream, in the woods, is well away from our fields. It does run through our neighbours property which include pastures, and a herd of beef cows that water from it. I wonder if cattle will be held to the same horse standards.

I suppose the gov. will take exception to anything we have done. I can't express enough, the pleasure I take from having other entities decide what is best for us. Are horse owners being contacted with these regulations, or is this one of the laws that if you're "ignorant" about, you're still responsible for the effects? Guess I'll have to check in with our local 4H office and get the lastest info. Thanks for the heads up.

I looked through the packet hubby brought home about it,it looks like the effective date was 10/29/2011, Land Application of Manure, 361-0300-002. There is a paper with the packet called, "Overview of Manure Management Guidelines for PA Farmers Generating or Using Manure." The first line says, " Who these guidelines pertain to: All farms that generate or use manure, regardless of the size of the farm, including farms that pasture livestock or poultry."

I don't think they have enough to do.senators/congressmen should have been more involved in this.(and,maybe they WERE!) but,I mean in favor of the backyard equine pleasure keeping average citizens,who aren't "farmers" or own a "farm." What we deem a "farm" in Arkansas is agricultural land that produces product to SELL.

I meant to say "fraking" instead of fracturing,duh.gotta be careful typing a word like that.Especially in a heated issue such as this one.

Sorry but,I think your county extension office's rules are  as dumb as some of Ark's.