57 



made use of two years together ; this was very often 

 Mr. Hogg's case ; he frequently, as opportunities oc- 

 curred, deposited in the same heap, sheep, horses, 

 cows, poultry, pigeons, night-soil, and blood from the 

 slaughter-house, and turning and mixing the whole up 

 together. He recommends the following compost for 

 strong blooming plants, and says it will retain its 

 virtue for a length of time : — 1 barrow of sound staple 

 loam, 1 ditto dried night-soil, 1 ditto dung of sheep, 

 cows, and poultry, mixed in blood from the slaughter- 

 house, in equal quantities, ^ ditto sea or river sand ; 

 which will be fit for use in no case under two years. 

 [Hoffff^s Auricula, 127.) 



Mr. Emmerton's chief compost, for he multiplied 

 them most needlessly, and made them all far too rich, 

 is as follows : — 3 barrowsful of goose-dung, steeped 

 in bullock' s-blood, 3 ditto sugar-baker's scum, 2 ditto 

 fine yellow loam. 



If, says Mr. Emmerton, your mould contains any 

 grubs, insects, or worms, add a peck of quicklime j 

 that made from stone lime is preferable, as it contains 

 less of magnesia ; lime not only will destroy them, but 

 will hasten putefraction, and make the compost sooner 

 fit for use ; and if you wish to force the compost still 

 more, spread it about four inches thick in the hot 

 months of June, July, and August, and rake it over 

 frequently, that it may become finely pulverised by 

 being exposed to the sun and air, which will sweeten 



