200 Compost WitJi Without Lime. [^ay^ 



attained the hight you want to have it, then cover it with ground. — 

 After several hours, the heat will indicate that the decomposition is 

 taking place by means of fermentation. The heap must now be 

 closely watched and in case smoke should burst out, a few shovels full 

 of earth must be thrown forthwith on such places, in order to pre- 

 vent those valuable volatile parts, alluded to in the foregoing 

 article, from escaping; for, it is in the smoke that they are chiefly 

 found. In about twenty-four hours the process of decomposition 

 will be finished and the vegetable matter converted into ashes, pre- 

 senting an excellent manure for top-dressing purposes. The fresh- 

 er the vegetable substances are, and the stronger the lime, the more 

 will the success of the operation be guaranteed. 



No gardener ought to be without such a compost heap ; in weed- 

 ing the garden he has the best materials needed to make one at his 

 command, if he will only take the little trouble to throw the weeds 

 aside for the compost, instead of spading them under The manur- 

 ing effect which they expect from that common practice is by no 

 means the same as if converted into manure by the composting 

 operation above described, and it is particularly worthy of note 

 that there are certain kinds of weeds of a perennial character the 

 root of which, instead of decomposing forthwith if spaded under 

 are rather preserved for a longer time in their natural state, 

 thus making the sowing and planting on such ground frequent- 

 ly rather inconvenient. Garden laborers, particularly those who 

 pretend to know as much and more than any body else, are some- 

 times obstinate in quitting old habits ; we have to train them. 



Mr. Schuman's third mode of preparing compost heaps, has ref- 

 erence to the saving of all the oifal and slops, old rags, bones etc., 

 in connection with human excrement, and urine, which latter sub- 

 stances he regards as the most valuable of all manures. He pro- 

 vides suitable boxes or other receptacles and from time to time 

 empties their contents into a compost heap and immediately throws 

 earth over the manure that its volatile ingredients may be absorbed 

 and retained. Successive alternate layers of manure and earth are 

 thus accumulated during the spring and summer ; the heap is work- 

 ed over in the fall, suffered to lie during the winter, and in the 

 spring is ready to furnish a most delicious repast to any hungry 

 plant to which it may be given. He lays great stress on the im- 

 portance of strict economy in regard to all kinds of offal which are 



