1846.] Art and Science of Agriculture. 151 



principles for the filling out of the young ear, as derive support 

 from this living, organized peat, until its vitality had been de- 

 stroyed, and its structure undergone decomposition. 



His next step would be to eft'ect that decomposition, and in such 

 a manner that its proximate principles would be best adapted to 

 furnish his cultivated vegetables with nutrition. 



On this point he need not be long detained, for science has al- 

 ready pointed out appropriate methods. 



It may be accomplished either by fermentation with animal and 

 other vegetable matter, or by the action of an alkali, or by what 

 is preferable, a combination of the two methods, viz., fermenta- 

 tion in a compost heap, made up of due proportions of peat, re- 

 fuse vegetables, animal matter and an alkali. 



The proportions best adapted are as follows: 



Peat, dug and exposed to one winter's frost, . . 21 loads, 



Fresh barn-yard product, 7 " 



Coal, wood or peat ashes, 1 " or 



Slaked lime, h " 



Mix these ingredients intimately in a compact heap, Avhich 

 should then be covered with refuse hay, straw, leaves or turf 

 After a time, varying with the moisture and temperature of the 

 weather, a fermentation will commence which may run so violent 

 as to endanger the burning of the ingredients. This can, how- 

 ever, be avoided by turning over the heap repeatedly, or by fre- 

 quent waterings. 



Three weeks before using it, it should be again thoroughly 

 forked over, and every lump broken. A slight fermentation will 

 follow, that must not be interrupted.- 



The compost wull then appear a black, free mass, and spread 

 like rich garden mould. Use it weight for weight with the best 

 barn-yard product; it will be found in a course of cropping to 

 stand the comparison.* 



Science is aware that these several materials, by the result of 

 chemical action, will furnish in about due proportion all the prox- 

 imate principles contained in the organized tissues of vegetables, 

 to wit, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen — and several of 

 their most important inorganic constituents, as potash, soda, lime, 

 phosphorus, &c., in various combinations — also of the ill effects 

 of furnishing any one of them in excessive or undue proportion. 



Science likewise understands all the principles, brought to bear, 

 in the changes this compost heap undergoes. 



Allow that she does! says Art; still this business of forming 

 compost to enrich my farm is attended with too much trouble and 

 expense ; I can never resort to such an expedient 



* See N. E. Farmer, vol. ix., p. 46. 



