184 AMERICAN MANURES. 



fertilizing moisture contained in the material 

 should be lost, neither should there be any addi- 

 tions to it in the shape of rain water. To effect 

 this, a ditch should be dug lengthwise of the in- 

 tended heap. This drain, at the lower end, 

 should extend several feet beyond the heap, and 

 be six inches below the level of the ground. It 

 should have a gradual ascent of one or two feet, 

 according to the length of the heap. The bot- 

 tom should incline towards the ditch, the dirt 

 taken from which will generally be sufficient for 

 this purpose. The following plan is an end view 

 of the compost heap, showing the shape of the 

 bottom, and the ditch for drainage : 



The sides and bottom of the centre drain 

 should be boarded, and the top covered with any 

 rough pieces of board or wood, with apertures 

 close enough to prevent the compost from falling 

 through, and still give free passage to the drain- 



