142 PLYMOUTH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



tion of the Committee on Improvements, and therefore but one 

 class of claims submitted to their decision. Six claims were 

 entered to the premiums offered for compost manure. The com- 

 petitors have done something better, than in former years ; but 

 have not employed all available means, either of increasing the 

 size or strength of their compost heaps. One very important 

 resource appears to have been almost or entirely neglected, the 

 intermixture of green herbage with substances requiring the 

 action of heat, to convert them into the food of plants. Three 

 parts of peat-mud, two of green vegetable matter, and one of 

 lime or ashes, will, in a few weeks, form a compost of equal 

 energy, at least, with Bommer's patent. The statements we 

 have received, indicate too confined views of the business of 

 composting, and some of them may justly be charged with 

 theoretic error ; one man states that manure, composted in 1847, 

 was applied to his land this year, in an improved state. This 

 cannot be true, unless new substances were added, or the 

 work only partially accomplished the last year. Soon as the 

 desired processes have taken place in the compost heap, it is 

 best to apply it to the field. Age cannot further improve it, but 

 must, to some extent, impair its energies. 



On perusal of the several statements, and hearing the remarks 

 of the supervisor, the Committee on improvements recommend 

 the following awards : — 



To Jonathan Howard, 2d, of West Bridgewater, first pre- 

 mium, . . . . . . . $10 00 



Mr. Howard made about 380 loads ; he uses various ma- 

 terials in composting manure, and generally such as are well 

 suited to the soils where it is to be applied. He uses con- 

 siderable quantities of coal-dust, a very good article to correct the 

 acidity of peat-mud. His operations are confined chiefly to ma- 

 terials found on the farm. 



To Orsamus Littlejohn, of Middleborough, second pre- 

 mium, . . . . . . $8 00 



Mr. Littlejohn made 300 loads ; he used various substances, 

 some of which were purchased and carted several miles. This 

 course is supposed, by many, to be too expensive for the gen- 



