ON MANURES. 103 



lowing manner: — In the bottom of the pit lay a large quantity 

 of furze, heath, or ling, upon which place about two feet in 

 thickness of the parings, in the centre of which begin to form 

 a funnel, or flue, of furze, encircled by peats, and around this 

 lay about 6 or 8 inches deep of limestone, broken in small 

 pieces. Then carry the flue up a couple of feet higher than 

 the limestone, adding afterwards another layer of furze and 

 parings about one foot deep, and then limestone, layer after 

 layer of each, but still continuing the funnel; observing, how- 

 ever, that the circumference of each layer is to be lessened, 

 until the wdiole assumes the form of a cone, or sugar-loaf, with 

 the flue for its apex, or point. When this is done, brushwood, 

 furze, heath, or any combustible matter, must be piled around, 

 with peats to keep all together; and if the soil contain clay, 

 clods may be added. Then set fire to the furze at the top or 

 point of the flue, and the whole heap will burn down to the 

 bottom with such effect, that within twenty-four hours the 

 limestone will be completely calcined. If clay be added, it 

 will also become sufficiently hardened to be easily reduced to 

 pow^der, in which state, as we shall hereafter see, it may be 

 converted to valuable manure; and the ashes may also be used 

 as a dressing. This method of burning lime has also the fur- 

 ther advantage, that these pits may be dug on every part of 

 the land where it may be wanted, as they may be filled up 

 with the soil previously taken out of them; or if it be also an 

 object to burn clay, the operation can be performed at the same 

 time, and a great portion of the expense may thus be saved. 



Compost. — Independently of the mixture of lime with the 

 soil in the manner already stated, great advantage may also 

 be gained by making a compost of lime and earth, which has 

 been found to possess more fertilizing properties than when it 

 has been laid naked upon the land ; and a far less quantity is 

 found to answer the purpose. The great objection raised by 

 most farmers is the heavy expense of labour, and also cartage, 

 which is, in many situations, so great as to prevent the opera- 

 tion. It should, however, be observed that the compost is, in 

 many cases, chiefly composed of the scourings of ditches, and 

 of pond-mud, in which instances the charge of labour mu?t 

 necessarily be incurred, and a great portion of the cost is thus 

 saved. Another mode of reducing the expense is also to 

 plough up the headlands of fields in which the compost is 

 intended to be laid. This is effected by ploughing the land 

 as deeply as it will admit; and if the subsoil be not of such a 



