BY COMPOST MANURES. 307 



soda ash, or 276 lbs. of potash. But when the peat is dry, it 

 loses nearly three-fourths of its bulk ; and hence would re- 

 quire about 736 lbs. of soda ash, or 1104 lbs. of potash. 

 These proportions are found, by experiment, to effect the de- 

 composition of the peat. But it is also found that a much 

 less quantity of alkali will convert peat into cow dung. This 

 is probably due to the fact, that not more than one-third of 

 the ammonia contained in cow dung is active, and hence 

 about 1 per cent, of potash will be sufficient for the compost 

 heap. This will require for every cord oi fresh peat 92 lbs. 

 of potash, or 61 lbs. of soda ash, or 16 bushels of common 

 ashes. 



If these are composted together, a cord of the compost 

 ought to produce effects precisely similar to cow dung. And 

 experiments, so far as they have been made, seem to confirm 

 the theoretical proportions. But a smaller quantity of alkali 

 will render pe:it a very valuable manure ; 20 lbs. of white ash, 

 or 30 of potash to a cord, are found in practice to be as 

 profitable as larger quantities. If spent ashes are used, 1 part 

 of ashes to 3 of peat may be used. 



Care should be taken to have the compost heap protected 

 by a shed or a thatch of straw, and worked over two or three 

 times before carrying it upon the land. In the process of 

 fermentation which takes place, nitrates are formed and other 

 salts of a highly salutary character. 



There are other alkalies, which may be composted with 

 peat, such as the spent lye of soap-manufacturers and lime. 

 If spent ashes are used, a greater or less quantity of lime is 

 also added. Some regard the lime which the ashes contain as 

 less likely to render them beneficial in their effects. But if lime 

 and common salt are both added to the peat, the lime will 

 produce effects highly beneficial. 



Take one bushel of salt dissolved in water, mix it with a 

 cask of slacked lime, so as to make them into a thick paste, 

 and let them remain for a week. This may then be mixed 



