Abstract

The essential part is the charging trench, which should be fifteen feet wide, and two leet deep. The floor must slope gently along its length to prevent water-logging, and must discharge into a natural drainage channel. It must be served by a road to be used as a charging platform running alongside. This rond may lie between two trenches, serving ench, and usually the most eco- nomical construction is to dig the trenches one foot deep and pile enough of the excavated earth to make the road foundation. The road should be at least fifteen feet wide (preferably twenty feet) and suitably metalled to stand carting in wet weather. The side of the trench against the road must be vertical and should be reveted with timber or a wall of stone or brick, the top of which should carry a sill of suitable material (e.g., old steel rails, girders, or heavy logs) ngainst which carts can back. Without this sill a log must be put in position at each tipping! The other side of the trench is to be bunded, preferably by a partition, the top half of which is removable-old sleepers, boards, logs, or thick corrugated iron sheet between upright posts-or by an carth, stone or brick wall, rising two feet above the trench floor. Beyond this partition about twenty fect space must be left for storage: in practice extensive sales of compost are usually confined to two or three periods of the year. This storage ground may be excavated level with the bottom of the trench if desired. Unless dug on solid stony ground, the trench must always be floored with road metal or at least well-rammed brick-bats and rubble; the storage ground is also better so treated. It is wise to build an earth bank with a drain on those sides of the whole installation from which the flow of surface water is to be feared.

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