212 THE COMPLETE FARMER 



or, if these are wanting, by adding the peat piecemeal, that 

 is, first mixing it up in the usual proportion of three to one 

 of dung, and then, after a time, adding an equal quantity, 

 more or less, of peat. The dung of this character of great- 

 est quantity is shamble-dung, with which, under the above 

 precautions, six times the quantity of peat, or more, may be 

 prepared. The same holds as to pigeon-dung and other 

 fowl-dung ; and to a certain extent, also, as to that which is 

 collected from towns, and made by animals that feed on 

 grains, refuse of distilleries, &c. 



' The compost, after it is made up, gets into a general 

 heat, sooner or later, according to the weather and the con- 

 dition of the dung ; in summer, in ten days or sooner ; in 

 winter, not perhaps for many weeks, if the cold is severe. 

 It always, however, has been found to come on at last ; and 

 in summer, it sometimes rises so high as to be mischievous, 

 by consuming the materials, (fire-fanging.) In that season, 

 a stick should be kept in it in different parts, to pull out and 

 feel now and then ; for if it approaches to blood-heat, it 

 should either be watered or turned over; and on such an 

 occasion, advantage may be taken to mix with it a little 

 fresh peat. The heat subsides, after a time, and with great 

 variety, according to the weather, the dung, and the perfection 

 of the making up of the compost ; which then may be 

 allowed to remain untouched, until within three or four 

 weeks of using, when it should be turned over, upside down 

 and outside in, and all lumps broken : then it comes into a 

 second heat, but soon cools, and is fit to be taken out for use. 

 In this state the whole, except bits of the old decayed wood, 

 appears a black free mass, and spreads like garden-mould. 

 Use it, weight for weight, as farm-yard dung ; and it will 

 be found, in a course of cropping, fully to stand the com- 

 parison.' 



Many other articles are useful for manure, such as blood, 

 ofTals of animals, hair, refuse feathers, woolen rags, hoofs 

 and horns of cattle, sheep, &;c. ; bones of all kinds, pounded, 

 broken, or ground, at the rate of sixty bushels to the acre ; 

 raw skins ; fish of all kinds ; swamp mud, river mud, pond 

 mud and sea mud, wood ashes, turfs, sea-weeds, moss mixed 

 with dung in holes — good for potatoes, turf from highways, 

 &c. ; shells of shell-fish ; scrapings of streets and back 

 yards ; rubbish of old houses, and earth which has long 

 been under cover. Both of these collect and retain nitre. 

 Old brine of salted meat or fish, which contains, besides salt, 



