BY COMPOST MANURES. 309 



will make four tons of compost, and four tons more may be 

 made by the urine discharged by the cattle in the same time." 



Night soil is similar in its effects. Fish also make an ex- 

 cellent compost, if lime is added to neutralize the acids or 

 combine with the oils. Any refuse animal matter, such as 

 woollen or cotton waste, and the washings of wool from wool- 

 len factories, may be mixed with peat and a most powerful 

 manure formed. 



3. Compost of peat with green manures. We have al- 

 ready described the process of preparing yard and stable ma- 

 nure ; underlaying it, and covering it with loam or peat earth. 

 The direct object in this case is to protect the manure, and 

 save the valuable products of fermentation, putrefaction, etc. 

 But in the process now to be described, the object is to de- 

 compose the peat, by means of the ammonia which green 

 manures evolve. The quantity of ammonia in 100 lbs. of 

 cow dung as we have seen, is about 2 lbs. This is sufficient 

 to convert 200 lbs. of peat into a substance of equal value 

 with cow dung. The urine which is mixed with stable ma- 

 nure will more than double this quantity; hence, if 3 cords 

 of peat are mixed with one of stable manure, there will be 

 formed 4 cords of manure equal in value to cow dung. These 

 proportions agree with experience, and may serve to confirm 

 us in the process, which has been recommended by practical 

 farmers. 



Process. In order to prepare a compost-heap with green 

 manures, the peat should be dug and exposed to the rains for 

 a while, to be deprived of its tannin and acids ; then, when 

 partly dry, it may be carried into the cattle-yard or shed, or 

 on to the field, and mixed with green manure. A layer of 

 peat should form the base of the heap, then a layer of manure, 

 and then alternate layers of peat and manure, ending with a 

 thick layer of peat. The shape should be conical, and cov- 

 ered, if exposed to rains, with a thatch o{ straw, or with boards. 

 If lime or ashes are added, they will facilitate the process of 

 26* 



