providing it is not too tough 
to be cut with a spade. Hard 
material is best cut up into 
12 inch lengths or less. Far 
the best results are obtained if 
a mechanical shredder is 
available but this is rarely the 
case. 
How to Build a Heap 
A base layer of hard, woody 
material will assist aeration 
and so will loosening the first 
spit, particularly on grassland 
where an acid layer may torm, 
hindering bacterial and worm 
activity. The heap should not 
exceed six feet in width unless 
special provision is made for 
ventilation, otherwise airless 
conditions will occur in which 
the majority of the necessary 
bacteria are unable to live. 
Build the heap as quickly as 
possible. Do not therefore be 
over-ambitious and make too 
large a heap but limit its size 
to the quantity of the material 
you have immediately avail- 
able. 
Baled straw is the best 
material to use for the walls; 
it provides a neat convenient 
method of making the heap 
and enables the compost to 
decompose tully to tne extent 
of the walls and assist the 
TelenHOMmOLmtiomicaim OL sde- 
composition, Many heaps, 
however are made without any 
retaining walls at all. 
Treatment of Materials 
Where __ possible, CRIB Y 
materials should be mixed with 
fresh green matter in alternate 
layers. Straw of any descrip- 
tion should be wetted uni- 
formly and thoroughly either 
with water, activated liquid 
manure or compost water. Dry 
leaves are very difficult to 
break down and should not be 
included in the heap unless 
they cate bDesshitcdded Lhe 
best way to use them is to let 
them break down slowly in a 
heap of their own and then 
add them to a compost heap 
ater ay Veal Ob sO, 
Build in Layers 
Materials to be used in the 
heap should be placed in 
layers not exceeding six inches 
in thickness, or less in the case 
of wet succulent substances 
like grass clippings or chicory 
leaves, 
The addition of animal 
manure in some form is not 
essential, If, however, any is 
available it should be added to 
the heap in thin layers. It will 
improve the value of the 
finished compost. The tech- 
nique of composting straw with 
small quantities of manure is 
described later in the leaflet. 
Light sprinklings of lme 
and soil either separately or 
together should be added every 
12 inches. Any form of lime 
which will counteract acidity 
can be used at the rate of one 
ounce per two square yards. 
Ground or crushed chalk is of 
value. Lime and manures 
should not be placed in contact 
