PLYMOUTH SOCIETY. 135 



Orsamus Litteljohn^ s Statement. 



I had thirty-two loads of compost manure for my orchards. 

 It was floats, dug up round rotten stumps in the woods, and put 

 in heaps the year before. They were carted to the field, and 

 two hogsheads of salt ley added, and shoveled over. This was 

 well rotted, and proves first-rate. 



I have used on my reclaimed meadows eighty-eight loads, 

 made of mud three fourths, and one fourth coal-dust, which 

 had seven large ox-wagon loads of hog and horse manure add- 

 ed. It was cut over twice, and found quite warm each time. 

 This manure was bought at two dollars per load, delivered. 

 The other work, drawing mud, &c. was hired by the day, which 

 prevents any estimation of the cost, but a strict account was 

 kept on book. It cost a fraction over twenty-two cents per load. 

 It was spread between August 6th and 12th, and I have this 

 day, Sept. 17th, cut a good swarth where it was used. 



I made other compost heaps in the field with my green barn 

 dung, that was mixed with refuse corn butts and urine, which 

 was used on grass and proves very good. This lot must have 

 cost something less than the above It was more than two 

 thirds soil, yet there was heat enough to rot the whole. My 

 other compost heaps were made up in the barn yard. Every 

 variety of materials that could be collected was used — mud, 

 soil, coal-dust, straw, pine needles, ashes, lime, plaster, salt, 

 soap-suds from the wash-tubs, sink and back-house manures, 

 dung and urine from the stock, carefully saved. These mate- 

 rials were mixed and laid up with a shovel, as light as possible, 

 while they were quite wet, in rows from three and one half to 

 four feet high. These heaps began to ferment in less than three 

 weeks, and, at the end of six weeks, were ready for any soil or 

 crop. 



I have had five hundred and three loads of compost made this 

 season ; the loads from twenty-five to thirty cubic feet each. I 

 have kept a book account daily, and I found that good manure 

 has cost me less than one cent the cubic foot. 



