HAMPSHIRE SOCIETY. 251 



ments that I have made, have not been on a large scale, but 

 large enough for the deduction of facts, which I wish to state 

 to the committee. 



Immediately after planting in the spring, and after I have 

 used what manure I want, I commence my compost heap for 

 the next season. Into a convenient place, which with me is a 

 hollow in the angle of a bank wall, on the south end of my 

 buildings, I deposit first a load of horse manure. Over this I 

 usually spread the scrapings of my wood yard and cellar, es- 

 pecially in May, and all other refuse substances that will make 

 manure, that I find about my buildings, such as the rakings of 

 the yard and old leaves, &c., making in all another small load. 

 Over this I add a load of loam, then over the whole I spread 

 about a bushel of ashes. For the next three or four weeks this 

 heap receives from the washroom, all the soap suds and wash- 

 ing water, and from the house all the useless slops and wash- 

 ings of the kitchen, sweepings, &c., being kept continually 

 moist. In about four weeks after the first deposit, I add 

 another load of horse manure, more loam and sand from the 

 washings of road drains spread over the horse manure, and 

 over all, a layer of wood ashes, occasionally adding more during 

 the next four weeks. This heap for the succeeding four weeks, 

 receives as before, all the fertilizing substances that accumulate 

 in the wash-room and kitchen. This process is continued 

 during the summer and fall, until snow covers the ground, and 

 then I call my heap finished, only as it continues to receive 

 during the winter, washings, slops, &c. 



This manure I have usually applied to corn lafid, but never 

 expecting to make any written statement as to its fertilizing 

 qualities, I have not tested it as methodically as I otherwise 

 should have done. I have tried it by the side of good barn 

 manure, and by the side of good hog yard manure, and it pro- 

 duces a heavier growth of corn than either. I noticed, partic- 

 ularly this season, that where I manured corn in the hill with 

 my compost and hog-yard manures, a load of each being de- 

 posited side by side, on equally good land, that corn grown 

 over the compost manure was the most vigorous, darker col- 



