160 GROW YOUR OWN VEGETABLES 



three feet in height, three feet in width, and six feet in 

 length ; but the more modest gardener will be satisfied 

 with a deep two by four foot box that has a good-fitting 

 lid. Even with this makeshift receptacle or an old tub 

 a good crop may well be produced. 



The necessary manure must be obtained in a fresh 

 condition ; a heap that has been standing long enough to 

 become over-heated is of no use. The best plan is to 

 obtain small quantities daily from a stable where horses 

 are in good condition, are fed on corn, not carrots, and 

 where no disinfectants are used. Each day's supply 

 must be spread out on the ground, the longest pieces of 

 straw thrown on one side, and then a heap made of the 

 remainder. It should not stand where the rain may beat 

 on it and wash away some of the nutriment. When 

 sufficient manure has accumulated the heap is allowed to 

 remain undisturbed for about a week and then well 

 stirred on three or four alternate mornings. All lumps 

 must be broken apart during this process, and if the heap 

 has become dry it should be sprinkled very sparingly 

 with water. Do not, however, add sufficient to arrest 

 fermentation. 



When the turning and mixing have been satisfactorily 

 performed and all rankness has disappeared, the manure 

 is stacked in a long heap having triangular ends. As it 

 is shovelled into position it should be constantly beaten 

 or trodden down to ensure a good degree of firmness. 

 The heap being roughly shaped, our next work is to 

 trim the sides with a rake in order to remove all pro- 

 jecting particles ; also, we must flatten the top of the 

 ridge and, in this flattened part, make deep chimney- 

 shaped holes, at each foot, to allow for ventilation and 



