44 Market Gardening, 



ashes a basin-shaped receptacle is formed on the 

 ground adjacent to the cesspool, keeping a reserve at 

 hand of absorbent material to be added by degrees as 

 the work progresses. The vault is then bailed out 

 into the space so provided, and, its contents being 

 mixed with a due proportion of absorbents, and, 

 finally, the earth around the edges being worked in, 

 the whole mass is then ready to be loaded and trans- 

 ported. 



By this method the material is made convenient to 

 handle, and as little disagreeable as ordinary manure 

 from the barnyard. In England, and on the Continent, 

 by the use of long straw, judiciously disposed during 

 the loading, the mixed material above described is 

 built up into a stack reaching two or three feet high, 

 above the sides of the wagon or cart, and so great 

 loads of it are carried many miles without loss. The 

 straw is spread so that half of its length projects over 

 the sides or ends of the load, and in layers— the inner 

 ends of the straw being covered and held fast by the 

 alternate layers of compost — and the outer ends are 

 then bent upwards and backwards, and similarly con- 

 fined. Racks for sides and ends are convenient but 

 when the load is carefully put together may be dis- 

 pensed with. 



Wood ashes, where they can be obtained, form one 

 of the best of fertilizers, and when unleached are gen- 

 erally richer in potash (which is one of the most im- 

 portant elements) than most commercial fertilizers. 

 From the fact that ashes are almost entirely lacking in 

 nitrogen, it is not advisable to rely on them alone and 



