XXVI 



THE WELL-TEMPERED COMPOST-HEAP 



When the German-gardening Elizabeth spent her sub- 

 stance on fertilizers she showed a worthy spirit and a willing 

 mind, biit had she been deep in the art of composting she 

 might yet have had her new gowns and the plants their lux- 

 uries. To a true gardener there is the same pleasure in a skil- 

 ful making of compost that a French housewife takes in the 

 deft use of odds and ends of her larder. 



In the first place, the compost-heap — "rot-heap" as it is 

 inelegantly called — need not be unsightly. Roses and dahlias 

 and sunflowers would revel in its vicinity. In a Princeton 

 garden there is a charming screen at one side, an arbor-like 

 contrivance of rough posts rather closely set and covered by 

 wistaria; within this lovely seclusion is the compost-heap. 



How TO Make Compost 



The compost-heap is a medley. Leaf-mould, manure in 

 variety, rotted sods, stalks of dead annuals, garden litter in 

 variety, slaughter-house refuse, wool waste, cracked bone — 

 all these things, and more besides, though unpleasing in them- 

 selves, work together for good in the compost-heap, making the 

 rich, velvety brown mixture which Celia Thaxter so admired. 



For the making of this confection there are many recipes. 

 The following are excellent: 



SODS 



Barnyard Manure. — ^Place in alternate layers. The sods 

 may be obtained from pastureland or fence corners, or sods 



191 



