134 
therein a strong and sharp-pointed stake, nearly to the bottom, 
there to remain, as is commonly practised in liot-heds : you 
may judge of the decay of the leaves by the abatement of the 
heat; which, if sufficient, will have much reduced the hulk of 
the heap. As it is necessary that the whole heap be fully and 
completely rotted down, it will be requisite to turn it over once 
or twice during the winter, after the heat has subsided ; and 
especially in snowy or frosty weather, to render the whole more 
light : and it being thereby, in a slight degree, exposed to se- 
vere and penetrating frosts, the whole will better decay, and 
become more rotten before the spring ; when it is likely that at 
least a part of the compost may be required for use. 
On the whole being completely rotted down, it will produce 
a soil not dissimilar to that collected from decayed trees; and 
will prove equally genial to vegetation, when aided by another 
ingredient, to render it more similar to peat-earth. It will now 
therefore, be requisite to add to it one-fourth part of the softest 
and finest white sand that can be procured ; taking care that 
it be intermixed, so that the whole may become fully incorpo- 
rated, by repeatedly turning it over weekly, or, at least, once 
in a fortnight : and, in doing this, it will be necessary to re- 
move all the rubbish you perceive in it, such as any stones, 
wood, tiles, or undecayed substances which might have been 
collected with the leaves: but on no account be prevailed upon 
to sift over the heap, under the idea of better mixing the sand 
and decayed leaves together; a process which has, invariably, 
proved hurtful to composts of every description. Where there 
is not the convenience of collecting a great quantity of these 
leaves at home, it may be very desirable as well as easy, to ob- 
tain them, at the fall of the leaf, from some neighbouring plan- 
tations, copses, or woods : raking them together early, as they 
fall from the trees ; and carting them home at the most conve- 
nient times in the winter season, after they have decayed, when 
but little room will be required, to stow them, where they are 
wanted for use. On removing them home, it will be proper 
to afford further waterings to such leaves as remain undecayed ; 
and they should remain, as much as possible, exposed to the 
action of the air, wind, rain, sun, frost, snow, &c. to mellow 
and ameliorate ; as, without such exposure, the soil would con- 
tract a fusty and unhealthy smell, and prove ungenial to the 
