Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-12-02
FROM the Portland Gasette.


preserving all such matters, which, tege-
ther or separately, may operate as ma
nure, and may increase the products OF
the fruits of the earth in season. Under
eur present management OF manure, the
practice is quite the contrary OF what it
ought to be-we do not increase and ac-
cumulate, but ,raste and disperse, almost
every substance which can be converted
into manure and improve the soil. Pru-
dence and economy point ont that what
is easiest ard cheapest to be done, should
be first done. Making compose manure
ought to be, attended to by every farmer.
b. little attention and less labor, our
barn yard dung might be more than dou-
bed; we might soon find the means,
from increased crops, to prosecute more
expensive improvements, The following
process for making compost has been
tested by experience we recommend 1t
TO the consideration of our agricultural
readers.
Let a suitable place for the heap be
situated in the barn yard, IT practicable;
otherwise in such situation as to re-
ceive the draining from the barn. Dig a
hollow place in the earth, in the form of
wooden tray; cast into it several loads
of clay, and spread it over the bottom;-
beat it until it becomes very hard and
smooth over the whole surface, in order
that the rich juice of the compost might
no. be lOstby soaking into the ground.
Having made these preparations for a
compost heap, calculated, say, for hum
dred loads, the following materials and
their proportion is preferable: so loads
Of earth, the same quantity Of mud from
swamps or boys the esidue to consist OF
the dung and wash Of the hog stye, chips,
cobs, leached ashes, dirt about the house
upoa which urine, wash tubs, &c. have
been emptied, COW yard dang, straw,
poor hay, Tc. one or two loads Of green
vegetables are to be thrown on the top Of
the heap'to keep it from drying, and pre-
mote putrefaction. 10 collecting the ma
:erials for the heap. not more than two or
three loads OF any one kind should be
carted until that is spread over the whole
surface, and then as much more Of diff
fereut kind is to be brought in and spread
rs before, and in that manner throughout
the whole.
The preceding operations are to be
performed in May and June; N the
month Of August let the compost heap be
turned up from the bottom, carefully mix.
ed, the several ingredients, and pulveri
sing the whole as much as can be con-
veniently done. BY this process putre-
faction is greatly promoted. There is
undoubtedly great loss to the farmer
In making up of winter or coarse manure
until it has been put into situation that
may pstrefy and thus become proper
manure, or food for vegetables. We
might make a considerable quantity of
manure yearly, which would be superior
in quality to stable dung, BY digging a
hollow in the hog yard, into which might
be thrown green aud tender vegetables.
and other materials that soon putrefy.
1t is generally admitted that there
might bsgreat benefits and gains derived
from paying little attention to preserv-
ing and increasing manures; but the ex-
case among farmers is, that they have no
time to spare for that business. This,
however, is not the real cause why this
important branch Of farming Is so much
neglected. Perhaps one Of the most pow
eriul reasons which might be assigned
arises from the consideration that no i'm
mediate profits can be derived from la
Dor and expense thus expended. Hence
we see many. who are called farmers,
disregard the surest means by which they