chap. III. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 147 



j/, Sea-weed. From the great extent of 

 sea-coast which Fife enjoys, this kind of ma- 

 nure is obtained in considerable quantities. It 

 is cast on shore by the waves, especially in the 

 time of high tides, or in stormy weather. When 

 carried to the land, it is usually spread imme- 

 diately, as allowing it to ly in heaps for any 

 length of time is supposed to lessen its efficacy. 

 It is used for crops of all kinds, and forms a 

 powerful manure ; but is reckoned not so last- 

 ing in its effect as dung. It is found to be an 

 excellent top-dressing for grass : and, indeed, in 

 every case, it is judged best to apply it to the 

 surface, without ploughing it down. \Vhea 

 spread and exposed to the air, it very soon dis- 

 solves and mixes with the soil. 



6tb, Compost Dung-hills are very common.- 

 This is a good plan for furnishing a supply of 

 manure, when a sufficiency of animal dung can- 

 not be had. They consist of earth, scourings 

 of ditches, road-soil, peat-moss, mossy earth, 

 iJ.nie, and dung, and such other kinds of vege- 

 table substances as can be easily got, and other-*- 

 wise of little use, such as -quick roots gathered 

 from the land, ferns, leaves of trees, &c. These 

 are all mixed and turned over repeatedly, and 

 suffered to ly and rot for several months, per- 

 haps a year, before the compost is laid upon the 

 land. 



In forming compost dung-hills, consideration 

 should be had to the quality and state of the 

 land for which they are intended. If it be a 

 thin, light, gravelly, or sandy scil^ the propor- 

 tion of earth may be encreased to any quantity 

 that can be conveniently got, or carried to the 



