COMPOST MANURES, ETC. 89 



grow and collect in the fence jams, in low wet places, in the 

 ditches, &c., should be carefully raked up, and at a convenient 

 time hauled into the stock lots. Muck, also, where it may 

 exist in ponds and branches within or contiguous to the plan- 

 tation, should be hauled up in the summer while dry and light, 

 as nothing contributes more valuably to the compost heap, nor 

 is any absorbent perhaps more retentive of the valuable fluid 

 portions of fat animal excrements. This is the process by 

 which I am enabled to prepare the large quantities of rich, va- 

 luable compost manure per hand, which I apply to my land 

 annually. 



There is another important item in the preparation of ma- 

 nure, which should be mentioned here. It is the construction 

 of the stock lots. This should be done in such manner as to 

 prevent any water from running into them, that does not fall 

 immediately on them, nor should any water be allowed to es- 

 cape from them. Moisture is a component part of compost 

 manure. Too much water, however, adds more to the expense 

 of carriage than to value in fertility. This teaches the econ- 

 omy of housing and sheltering the compost "heap, that we may 

 be spared the expense of hauling to the field so much water, 

 quite as heavy as the manure itself, and of no value. Of 

 course, every planter engaging in the preparation and saving 

 of compost manure, will consult the conveniences of locality, 

 &c., of his plantation, in the construction of his stock houses 

 and lots, and other arrangements for the business. 



I shall now give you my mode of applying the manure to 

 the land. Of course I esteem it the proper mode. As I have 

 stated elsewhere, my land, though but little undulating, is all 

 laid off in rows, as nearly level as instrumental operations can 

 accomplish. The manure is hauled out on the land in carts, 

 in tumbling bodies, graduated to hold an exact number of 

 bushels. In the commencement, a row is selected, fifteen feet 



