MANURES. 115 



the former case, it has a very untidy appearance, and prevents water 

 from getting freely off the road; and in the latter, it is hurtful to 

 the hedges by encouraging the growth of weeds about them. Every 

 particle of the cleanings of both roads and ditches should be carefully 

 carted to a heap and mixed with lime and any other matter likely to 

 make manure. I have made these compost-heaps by first placing a layer 

 of cleanings in the bottom about eighteen inches deep, then a layer of 

 lime about two inches, then cleanings and lime alternately to the top. 

 Any other vegetable matter might be added to the heap with benefit ; but 

 guano should never be mixed where there is lime, as 1 have sometimes 

 known it done, as lime always destroys the effect of the guano. I have 

 used this kind of compost with a good result as a topdressing to per- 

 manent grass. 



Mud from ponds is another very fertilising manure. It is the 

 sediment which falls to the bottom, and is composed of earthy matter 

 washed into the pond by rains. It is mixed up with leaves of trees, 

 decayed water-plants, and many other collections of vegetable and ani- 

 mal matters. All ponds should be cleaned out from time to time, and 

 the cleanings taken from them will more than pay for the trouble of 

 doing so. The mud should be formed into a heap and mixed with lime. 

 There is nearly always sure to be a number of seeds of different plants 

 in the mud. These seeds will lie for years in a dormant state unless 

 some means be taken to destroy them. If they are mixed in the pro- 

 portion of one part lime to two parts of the mud, and turned over from 

 time to time, they will die. If the mud be added to a compost-heap 

 of road-scrapings and other matter, it will be better adapted for land 

 than by itself even when mixed with liine. Salt is also a useful addi- 

 tion to all composts of this kind. The quantity must be regulated 

 according to the extent of land the compost is calculated to cover, or 

 say five cwt. to the acre. 



SECTION 5. Liquid Manures and the Sewerage of Towns. 



I have already alluded to the liquid manure of the cattle lodged 

 in the farm-steading. The urine of animals has a high chemical value 

 as a manure, and surpasses that of the solid excrements. It, however, 

 soon loses a great amount of its nutritive qualities if exposed to the air 

 for some time, hence the reason for having it oonveyed in covered drains 

 to a covered tank, and there kept close until it is required for the land. 

 It is a good plan to have dry peat or sawdust spread under cows and 

 other cattle tied up in the houses, for the purpose of absorbing the 



