96 ON COMPOST MANURE. 



compost designed for use on light, dry, gravelly, or sandy 

 soils. 



That to prepare it for use it should be well mixed 

 either by swine or by manual labor, with the excremen- 

 titious matter of animals, animal matter, ashes, or 

 other alkalies. 



'I'hat lime operates injuriously rather than beneficial- 

 ly on compost and on crops the first year, unless by 

 long exposure to the atmosphere it has become satura- 

 ted with carbonic acid, that is like chalk or marl. 



That the experiments tend to confirm Dr. Dana's 

 theory of manures, and thereby recommend the "Muck 

 Manual" to the study of all enterprising farmers. 



That although in compost as m other matters, " the 

 more good things the better" provided the cost is not 

 too much enhanced, many of the good things, especially 

 salts, salt ley, &c., should be used with care, as too 

 large doses of these convert the food of plants to poison ; 

 and although they may benefit the soil in the end, the 

 crops for the first year or two, must be injured by such 

 applications. 



For the Committee, 



ANDREW NICHOLS. 



Georgetown, Dec. 20, 1842. 



JOSEPH HOW'S STATEMENT. 



To the Committee on Compost Manure. 



Gentlemen — Had 1 in the early part of the season 

 expected to have been called upon to make a public 

 statement in regard to making manure, [ might have 

 been more particular than I now can be. My stock the 

 past year has consisted of about 20 head of cattle, 2 

 horses and from 20 to 30 swine of different ages. I 

 have made from my hogs about 100 loads, and mostly 

 of mud, I made from my cow yard about 80 loads; 

 this also was principally of mud. It was filled up in 

 June, over hauled so as to make it fine, and spread on 

 to the grass for top dressing, in August. I made in my 



