298 On Plaster. 



contained about sixty two-horse-cart-loads, after it was 

 rotted down ; and the other not more than twelve, of 

 the like loads. In the first, I begun with a layer of 

 tussocks; then, a layer of muck, from the stables, in 

 a fermenting state ; next, a layer of leaves and wood- 

 soil, (each layer about one foot thick,) until the heap 

 was sufficiently high. On each layer, I strewed plas- 

 ter, very little thicker, than I should have scattered 

 it on grass ground. This was done in the autumn. 

 In the succeeding spring, I began to throw it over ; 

 and mixed with it, a quantity of slaked Ihjte. I 

 found the heap far advanced in its putrefaction ; so 

 that, after being once thrown over, it was (in the fall) 

 in the best order for top-dressing. I never had better 

 compost. There were, (in this heap,) not above four 

 bushels o^ plaster, used. In the small heap, I employ- 

 ed no muck, or dung ; but formed it of alternate lay- 

 ers of tussocks, and leaves from the woods intermixed 

 with wood- soil. Each layer was plastered. But the la- 

 bourer to whom I entrusted this small operation, 

 thought he would supply the deficiency of dung, by an 

 over-dose of plaster. He strewed nearly the like quan- 

 tity in the small heap, with that mixed in the large one. 

 When 1 came to view it in the spring ; very little pro- 

 gress had been made in putrefaction. I was compelled 

 to throw it over twice, during the summer. I found it, 

 in the fall, unfit for use. The plaster was unchanged, 

 in many parts of the heap. So was a considerable pro- 

 portion of the leaves and tussocks. 1 suffered it to re- 

 main until the last spring ; when I found it but imper- 

 fectly rotted ; and much of the plaster unaltered. None 

 of the plaster in the other heap, was visible ; but 



