In mild weather, seven cart-loads of common farm dung, tolerably fresh made, is sufficient for twenty-one cart-loads of peat moss ; but in cold weather, a larger proportion of dung is desirable. To every twenty-eight carts of the compost, when made up, it is of use to throw on, above it, a cart-load of ashes, either made front coal, peat, or wood ; or, if these cannot be had, half the quan tity of slacked lime may be used ; the more finely powdered the better. But these additions are nowise essential to the general success of the compost.
" The dung to be used should either have been re cently made, or kept fresh by compression ; as, by the treading of cattle or swine, or by carts passing- over it. Audhil there is little or no litter in it, a smaller quantity will serve, provided any spongy vegetable matter is added at making up the compost, as fresh weeds, the rubbish of a stack-yard, potatoe-shaws, sawings of tim ber, &cc. And as some sorts of dung, even when fresh, are much more advanced in decomposition than others, it is material to attend to this ; for a much less propor tion of such dung as is less advanced, will serve for the compost, provided care is taken to keep the mass suffi ciently open, either by a mixture of the above mentioned substances, or, if these arc wanting, by adding the peat piece-meal ; that is, first making it up in the usual pro portion of three to one of dung ; and then, after a time, adding an equal quantity, more or less, of moss. The dung of this character, of gr( atcst quantity, n; shamblf dung, with which, under the above precautions, si . times the quantity of peat, or more, may he prepared The same holds aa to pigeon dung, and other fowl dung and, to a certain extent also, as to that Is Inch is collec ted from tow us, and made by amouots drat teed on grains, refuse of distilleries, ere.
"The compost, alter it is made up, gets into a general heat, sooner or later, according to the weather, aim Lie condition of the dung in xmrtnnue, III ten days or sooner ; in winter, not perhaps for many weeks, it toe is severe. It always, however, has been bound to come on at last ; and, in summer, it sometimes rises SO high as to be mischievous, by consuming the materials (lire langing). In that season, a stick shouid he kept in it in different parts, to pull out and iced now and then ; for, if it approaches to blood-heat, it should either be watered, or turned over; and, on such an occasion advantage may be taken to mix it with a little Irish moss. 'File
heat subsides, after a time, and with great variety, ac cording to the weather, the dung, and the perfection of the making up of the compost ; which then snould be allowed to remain untouched, till within three weeks of using, when it should be turned over upside down, and outside in, and all lumps broken : then it conies into a second heat ; but soon cools, and should be taken out for use. In this state, the whole, except bits of the old de cayed wood appears a black free mass, and spreads like garden mould. Use it, weight for weight, as farm-vard dung ; and it w ill be in a course of cropping, fully to stand the comparison.
Let it be observed, that the object in making up the compost, is to form as large it hot-bed as the quantity of dung employed admits of, and than to surround it on all sides, so as to have the whole benefit of the heat and ef fluvia. Peat, neark- as dry as garden-mould in seed-time, may be mixed with the dung, :no as to double the volume and more of it. Wm-knit:I must begin with using lay ers; but, when accustomed to the just proportmns, if they are furnished NV101 peat moderately dry, and clung not lost in litter, they throw it up together as a m:xed mass ; and they improe e: in the art, so as to make a loss proportion of clung serve for the preparation.
" The addition, recommended, of ashes or lime to the compost, is thought to favour the general perfection of the preparation, and to hasten the second heat. The lime laid on above the dunghill, as directed, is tendered mild by the vapours that escape during the first heat.
" Compost, made up before Jamiary, Iras hitherto been in good order for the spring crops ; but this may not hap pen in a long frost. In summer, it is ready in eight or ten w et ks , and if there is an anxiety to have it soon prepared, the addition of ashes, or of a little lime rub bish of old buildings, or of lime slacked with foul water, applied to the clung used in making up, will quicken the process considerably.