616 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



effecting this object, although it is probable that many good 

 practical farmers may improve very much upon it. 



Choose a spot as well sheltered as possible from the wind 

 and rain, dig a trench eight to twelve feet wide, four to six 

 feet deep, and in length according to the manure expected 

 to be made. Throw the soil from the trench on the sides; if 

 loamy it will form a portion of the compost, and if turfy it will 

 be an excellent protection to the sides from rain or wind, when 

 the heap rises above the surface ; floor the bottom of the trench 

 with the stifllest soil the farm affords, and beat it pretty hard ; 

 (if no stiff soil is to be had, with sweetened bog muck, about 

 eight inches or one foot thick,) slope the trench to one end so 

 that the drainings flow into a couple of bogheads, one at each 

 corner, which should have a slight covering. These drainings 

 should be emptied on the top at each addition ; on this foun- 

 dation begin to lay the manure two feet thick, strewing it 

 plentifully with sweetened bog earth ; now if rockweed is at 

 hand, put on one or two inches thick; if none, strew a very 

 small quantity of salt, then a little bone dust, or the ground 

 bones, or phosphate of lime, after it has been prepared with sul- 

 phuric acid; then add an inch of loam, or of pulverizid clay, 

 half an inch, as there must not be any impediment to a free 

 circulation of heat through the mass; now strew over a little 

 powdered gy[)sum, which will be better if it has absorbed the 

 moisture from cattle ; lay over this about two or three, or even 

 six inches bog muck as a finish, and a few boards to protect 

 from lieavy rain. When you have enough manure to make an 

 addition, rake off three-quarters of the covering of peat muck, 

 put on the two feet manure, arid proceed as before, always 

 covering up with muck and boards; let the heap dish a little 

 towards the middle. 



The following are good ingredients for the heap: — All kinds 

 of animal maniu'c, including contents of vaults, which should 

 first be mixed with sweetened bog muck, with well washed 

 charcoal of refineries, or with powdered gypsum ; all vegetable 

 refuse of whatever kind, leaves, weeds, &.c., and diggings of 

 ditches and drains; plaster, well ground up, in very moderate 



