SOIL AND SITUATION. 97 



When it is not convenient to make the compost heap in 

 the barnyard it may be made anywhere in the fields, by 

 first laying down a foot in depth of any of those materials 

 and then drawing out the manure and spreading it over 

 the surface, putting on alternate layers until a sufficient 

 quantity is obtained. The compost heap should be kept 

 level on the top or a little inclined toward the center, so 

 that it shall receive the water that falls upon it. This will 

 cause it to decompose more rapidly than if the water did 

 not penetrate it. 



The compost should be frequently turned over, so that 

 it may become fine before it is wanted for use. It will 

 seldom be fit to use in less than six months, and it is better 

 to let it remain one year. Ashes may be applied to the 

 compost at any time with benefit ; also ground bones, 

 charcoal, horn shavings, offal from the butcher's, refuse 

 from rope-walks, woolen and cotton factories, etc. ; in short, 

 almost any such materials may be mixed in ; they are all 

 good, but not positively necessary, nor worth while spend- 

 ing any great amount of money or time to obtain. Lime 

 and ashes are both very beneficial to light soils, but they 

 may be applied alone, and upon the surface of the soil after 

 the vines are planted. Lime especially should be applied 

 in this manner, as it descends rapidly into the soil and 

 needs no mixing with it ; besides, when applied upon the 

 surface it will often assist in the destruction of the larvae 

 of insects, in the decomposition of vegetable matter, etc. 

 Shell lime is considered the best, but the difference is so 

 slight that it will not pay to transport it any great distance 

 if stone lime can be had near at hand. 



The compost should be spread upon the soil and plowed 

 in as has been described, before the vines are planted. 



The quantity may vary from fifty to five hundred two- 

 horse wagon-loads per acre, but it is not judicious to put 

 on too much at first, as it will cause a rampant growth ; 



