138 On making Compost Heaps. 



being pointed, make a trench or cavity on the top from one end 

 of the heap to the other. This cavity shoukl be made tolerably 



retentive of moisture, which may be effected by treading with 

 the feet; carriages of night-soil or urine from the cattle-stalls 

 may then be emptied into the trench, and the bulk of the heap 

 would determine how many were required : this being done, 

 a little earth should be thrown into the trench, and the heap 

 allowed to remain in that state until the middle or latter end of 

 autumn*; it will then be ready for another turning ; but at this time 

 care must be taken to have the heap well made up at the sides 

 and pointed at the top ; in this situation rain mil be thrown off, 

 and the compost preserved dry until winter presents some favour- 

 able opportunity for laying it on the young clover, Nvheat, or for 

 making any other use of it which may be required. 



The beneficial effects of top-dressing young clovers or mixed 

 grass seeds is scarcely ever regarded with due attention. By this 

 help crops are not only much increased, even 30 or 50 per cent., 

 but they are also ready for cutting much sooner, which in a back- 

 ward spring gives the stock farmer inestimable advantages for 

 sorting his cattle, and thereby raising manure at his pleasure. 

 The full effects of this practice I first experienced in the dry 

 season of 1826 : I had some clovers which had been manured the 

 previous winter ; my land was soon covered with crop, and that 

 so vigorous a one, that the hot weather did not overpower it. My 

 cows, that summer, were tied up during the day-time, and in the 

 night they were turned out into the pastures ; most of the stock in 

 my district were much distressed from over-heat as well as from 

 being short of food for some weeks ; milk yielded little butter, 

 scarcely any for a time was offered in our large market-town : — no 

 doubt that year will be remembered by many gentlemen on the 

 Agricultural Society's committee. I, however, was under no 

 difficulties on account of the season : my clovers produced plenty 

 of food for my cattle, and in return they yielded as much milk 

 and butter as I ever recollect from the same number. I am 

 persuaded that the same satisfactory results would have followed 

 if the same system had been adopted for feeding stock ; it 

 was that year my attention was first directed to raising compost 

 heaps from urine. This I now do frequently without the help of 



