18 



THE AMERICAN GARDENER. 



of ashes, lime, and composts. And, besides, 



dung, in hot soils and hot climates, adds to the 

 heat ; while ashes, lime, rags and composts do not ; 

 but, on the contrary, they attract, and cause the 

 earth to retain, moisture. 



28. All the ground in a garden ought always to 

 be good ; and it will be kept in this state if it be 

 well manured once every year. Perhaps it will 

 scarcely ever be convenient to any one to manure 

 the whole garden at one time : and this is not of so 

 much importance. Clay, or any earth, burnt, is 

 excellent manure for a garden. It has no seeds of 

 weeds or grass in it. A compost, made of such 

 ashes, some wood-ashes, a small portion of horse- 

 dung, rotten leaves, and mould shovelled up under 

 trees, round buildings, or on the sides of roads. 

 All these together, put into a heap, and turned over 

 several times, make the best manure for a garden. 



29. A great deal more is done by the fermenta- 

 tion of manures than people generally imagine. 

 In the month of June take twenty cart loads of 

 earth, which has been shovelled off the surface of a 

 grassy lane, or by a road side, or round about barns, 

 stables, and the like. Lay these twenty loads about 

 a foot thick on some convenient spot. Go and cut 

 up twenty good cart-loads of weeds of any sort, and 

 lay these well shaken up, on the earth. Then cover 

 the w^eeds Avith twenty more cart-loads of earth like 

 the former, throwing the earth on lightly. In three 

 days you will see the heap smoke as if on fire. If 

 you put your hand into the earth, you will find it 

 too hot to be endured. In a few days the heat will 

 decline, and you will perceive the heap sink. Let 

 it remain a week after this, and then turn it very 

 carefully. This will mix the whole well together. 

 You will find the weeds and grass in a putrid state. 



