THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



that is, neither heavy and clayey, nor light and 

 sandy, but a happy blending of both and 

 fibrous in character. The latter requisite is 

 best obtained by using the residue of old turfs. 

 Following the usual custom of large grow- 

 ers in our vicinity, a strip of meadow, in which 

 there is a good percentage of clover, is mowed 

 in September or October; then plowed to a 

 depth of three and a half inches. The sods 

 are sprinkled with lime and left until Decem- 

 ber frosts have had an opportunity to kill 

 embryo weeds and insects, mellow the earth, 

 and hasten the disintegration of the roots. 

 Early in February and March, just as weather 

 permits, the sods are carted to an open shed 

 at the back of the feed house, which is built 

 of cedar poles and slabs. During September 

 the droppings from the gutter in the cow barn 

 were collected each morning, to avoid their be- 

 coming mixed with straw or bedding, and 

 stored under the shed, so that they should be 

 in condition to mix with the sods in making 

 the compost. 



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