328 Composts. 
To all the causes and effects of the changes of the natural world 
offers subjects full of interest and worthy of investigation, and 
especially to the cultivators of the soil, men whose operations are 
almost restricted to this grand laboratory, where analysis and 
combinations are continually taking place; men whose interests, 
whose deep successes or irrecoverable losses are wholly to result 
from such ariangements; these subjects require studious and prac- 
tical attention. To them '' gather up the fragments, that nothing 
be lost," is a lesson clearly inculcated by these observations. 
In no part of the farmer's operation is there more remissness 
manifested than in the saving and application of manures, where- 
by the productiveness of his lands are increased. It is probably 
safe to suppose that the real benefits which might result from ju- 
dicious creation and application of fertilizing agencies, are not 
one-third realized. How many substances are yearly allowed to 
moulder away around every farmer's premises each year, which 
are not only nuisances, secret underminers of health and comfort, 
while the process of decomposition is going on, but which give 
their richness to the winds, to be distributed like the loathsome 
weed and the useful plant. How much richness is annually borne 
away by .showers, to lands from which there is no returning bene- 
fit? The stagnant pond-hole, the ditches of the way side, the 
bottom of the river, and even the bed of the ocean, are full of 
enriching substances, which have been borne from contigious re- 
gions, and are lost to all the practical purposes of utility. 
To prevent such great wastes of valuable materials, it should 
be the object of the farmer each year, to form a compost heap or 
general receptacle, where all substances tending to decay, and li- 
able to be floated off by rains, or wafted by wind, should be col- 
lected for careful preservation. 
To facilitate this, the dishing barn yard forms a suitable de- 
pository, where weeds, muck, turf, the offal of butchering, soap 
suds from the wash-room, indeed every thing liable to waste or 
decay may be thrown into a heterogenous mass, and ere long con- 
stitute a mine of more value to the possessor, certainly, than many 
of the fancied deposites of Kidd's treasures, on the equally risky 
gold mines of which the imaginations of too many dream so fond- 
If such a compost heap has not been already began now, when 
weeds are growing rapidly, and decay will work fast, it is a 
proper season for commencing. Throw in weeds, brake leaves, 
straw, if you had any left, ashes leached or unleached, lime, and 
let your swine w-ork what they will among it, and your cows 
trample over it, and there will be no mistake but you will accu- 
mulate a valuable mass before the setting in of winter. But be 
sure to keep plenty of loam there, for its absorbent powers will 
