52 ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY SOCIETY, 



We judge from the composition and odor of Mr. M.'s specimen 

 that there were not absorbents enough to retain the volatile gases 

 ■while the introduction of the alkaline substances, ashes and lime, 

 instead of fixing, aided the escape of the ammonia. Two or three 

 times as much of soil we think would have been a decided saving in 

 this case. 



Mr. Hill's statement is as follows : 



"I collect leaves, muck, rich soil and decayed vegetable matter, 

 and let mj hogs work it over. I then form my heap of equal parts 

 of this and stable manure. I wet it with suds and the drainings of 

 the yard, to prevent too rapid fermentation. I also add plaster to 

 prevent the escape of the gases and to retain the ammonia. AVhen 

 the heap is sulficiently decomposed, open it and add salt in the form 

 of brine, which prevents further fermentation and keeps the compost 

 in the same condition till applied to the land, as food for plants. 

 The effect of such compost on crops, I think fully equal if not better 

 than the best of stable manure." 



Messrs. L. Gilbert & Son say — 



"The leanto in which our cattle are tied is constructed with a 

 water-tight trench behind the cattle 2^ feet wide and 3 inches deep. 

 The cattle have been stabled nights during the whole season ; and 

 into this trench has been thrown a quantity of muck equal to about 

 three-fourths of a bushel to an animal, or enough to soak up all the 

 li(|uid droppings of the cattle. The droppings, both liquid and solid, 

 fall immediately upon the muck, and after receiving them for one 

 night the whole is removed through scuttles in the trench to the 

 cellar below ; this operation completely mixing the whole mass. In 

 the cellar it is allowed to remain in as light a condition as possible, 

 where decomposition immediately commences. In this manner, we 

 have manufactured a large quantity of the richest quality. 



We have also six or eight cords composted in the following manner : 



The stalls in which our horses were kept were supplied with a 

 liberal share of beddincr consisting; of brakes (ferns.) The manure 



1 • 111 



and saturated bedding were passed through a scuttle nito the cellar 

 beneath. Every few days this heap was forked over and a quantity 

 of muck equal to the manure carefully and equally mixed with it — 

 the muck preventing that excessive fermentation which would other- 

 wise immediately take place. In the month of June this heap was 

 again forked over and left as light as possible, so the air would per- 

 meate the whole heap, and thereby hasten decomposition. The 

 muck used was thrown from the pit into heaps in the summer of 

 1859, and hauled the next winter while frozen. When thawed, it 

 becomes thoroughly pulverized. From experiments conducted 

 through a series of years, on almost all kinds of crops, it has been 

 found that this compost is of the richest (|uality, and produces the 

 most satisfactory results." 



