dious vnode of making compost has been also practised. Old head-lands, where much mould had been accumulated, were ploughed,-and lime in shells was laid over the stirred earth, and the loosen-ed mould was shovelled in from the sides till the lime was cover-ed, and a kind of long heap formed. This was afterwards turn-ed with the plough, and prepared to be spread on the field. Some-times lime and mould are first mixed and incorporated, and dungafterwards added, and mixed with the whole. Marl is sometimessubstituted for lime in composts, mixed with mould or peat moss.Sea-weed is made in composts, where it ferments quickly and fa-cilitates the putrefaction of other putrescible bodies. All kindsof weeds, the grass and mud scoured out of ponds and ditches,are frequent ingredients in composts. There are descriptions ofthe compost made in different districts. But as the substance ofthem is comprehended in the above, more minute detail will beneedless. They generally agree in judiciously recommending thatthe mould of the compost should differ in consistency as much aspossible from that of the soil to which it is to be applied. TheRight lion, the Earl of Dundonald, who has devoted his pene-trating genius to the benefit of the public on various occasions,recommends a compost of lime and peat moss, which has beenused with success. One part of lime slacked to a mild powder ismixed with five parts of peat moss and turned till both be inco-porated. This succeeds best when the moss has been turned outsome time, and exposed to the action of the weather before mix-ing : but the moss must not he dry when mixed. The learnedand profound Lord Meadowbank, by his example and instructions,has favoured the public with a very important purpose of peatmoss compounded. But rules for the preparation being alreadyin the possession of the public, the practice of preparing and ap-plying become pretty extensive, and the good effects experienced,it is unnecessary to dwell on the subject.
More than double the bulk of earthy composts to that whichis usual of plain dung, is thought requisite for manuring a field.They are applied with much greater propriety to grass groundsand all kinds of surface dressing than dung ; and have also beenapplied with' advantage on fallow, especially on all kinds of thinsoil.
Broad-leaved plants, raised on the ground and ploughed into it,'may here be stated as a kind of compost, of which the soil andflie crop are the ingredients. This has not been much practisedin Scotland , and there is no particular report concerning it. Themost common opinion is, that it would be more economical to con-sume the crop with live stock, and carry their dung to the field.
Sea-ooze or sea-sleech is a spontaneous compost, of an excel-lent quality. It is an accumulation of dissolved animal and ve-getable spoils enwrapped in particles of clay which have been