MANURES. 1<>5 



The appearance of the apparatus required for com- 

 posting, and the compost laid up, may be better 

 shown by the foregoing figure. 



The compost is made by laying on the floor ten or 

 twelve inches of muck, and on that a few inches of 

 manure, then another heavy layer of muck, and an- 

 other of manure, continuing in this manner until the 

 heap is raised to the required height, always having 

 a thick layer of muck at the top. 



After laying up the heap, the tank should be filled 

 with liquid manure from the stables, slops from the 

 house, soap-suds, or other water containing fertilizing 

 mutter, to be pumped over the mass. There should 

 be enough of the liquid to saturate the heap and 

 filter through to fill the tank once or twice a week, 

 at which intervals it should be again pumped up, 

 thus continually being passed through the manure. 

 This liquid should not be changed, as it contains 

 much soluble manure. Should the liquid manures 

 named above not be sufficient, the quantity may be 

 increased by the use of rain-water. That falling 

 during the first ten minutes of a shower is the best, 

 as it contains the most ammonia. 



The effects produced by frequently watering the 

 compost constitute one of the greatest advantages of 

 this system. 



The soluble portions of the manure are equally 

 diffused through every part of the heap. 



Should the heat of fermentation be too great, the 

 watering will reduce it. 



When the compost is saturated with water, the 



5* 



