AND RURAL ECONOMIST. 211 



them. They must take care not to tread on the compost, 

 or render it too compact ; and of consequence, in propor- 

 tion as the peat is wet, it should be made up in lumps, and 

 not much mashed or broken. 



' In mild weather, seven cart-loads of common farm-yard 

 dung, tolerably fresh made, is sufficient for twenty-one cart- 

 loads of peat-moss ; but in cold weather, a larger proportion 

 of dung is desirable ; at least it is prudent to omit putting 

 any peat between the two upper layers of dung, and rather 

 thicken the cutcr coating with peat. It is also proper in 

 winter, if ground with a dry bottom can be conveniently em- 

 ployed for the purpose, to increase greatly the breadth of the 

 dunghill, which, in that case, may be done without any limit, 

 by adding, all round the dunghill, circles, consisting of layers 

 of dung and peat, of seven feet in breadth. And if the mass 

 of the dunghill is thus enlarged, there is little occasion to 

 exceed the proportion of dung recommended for making up 

 to prepare in the milder season ; especially if a covering of 

 coarse vegetables of any sort, such as waste hay or straw, 

 rushes, broom, or furze, or brushwood of evergreens, is 

 thrown over the dunghill. In fact, a covering of this sort is 

 scarce less useful in summer to prevent the escape of mois- 

 tur3, than in winter to exclude cold. 



' To every twenty-eight cart-ioads of the compost, when 

 made up, it is of use to throw on above it a cart-load of 

 ashes, either made from coal, peat, or wood ; or if these can- 

 not be had, half the quantity of slacked lime may be used, 

 the more finely powdered the better. But these additions 

 are in nowise essential to the general success of the com- 

 post, provided a sufficiency of time is allowed to the prepa- 

 ration to compensate for the want of them. 



' The dung to be used should either have been recently 

 made, or kept fresh by compression; as by the treading of 

 cattle or swine, or by carts passing over it. And if there is 

 little or no litter in it, a smaller quantity will serve, pro- 

 vided any spongy vegetable matter is added at making up the 

 compost, as fresh weeds, the rubbish of a stack-yard, pota- 

 to-shaws, sawings of timber, &c. And as some sorts of 

 dung, even when fresh, are much more advanced in decom- 

 position than others, it is material to attend to this ; for a 

 much less proportion of such dung, especially if abounding 

 in animal matter, as is less advanced, will serve for the com- 

 post, provided care is taken to keep the mass sufficiently 

 open, either by a mixture of the above-mentioned substances, 



