The importance of some protection of this kind, is evident from what has already been said, and indeed it is impossible to make an economical use of manures without it. The trifling cost of building a shed, or preparing a cellar, is amply repaid in the benefit resulting from their uses. THE FLOOR. The _floor_ or foundation on which to build the compost deserves some consideration. It may be of plank tightly fitted, a hard bed of clay, or better, a cemented surface. Whatever material is used in its construction (and stiff clay mixed with water and beaten compactly down answers an excellent purpose), the floor must have such an inclination as will cause it to discharge water only at one point. That is, one part of the edge must be lower than the rest of the floor, which must be so shaped that water will run towards this point from every part of it; then--the floor being water-tight--all of the liquids of the compost may be collected in a TANK. [How should the tank be attached?] This _tank_ used to collect the liquids of the manure may be made by sinking a barrel or hogshead (according to the size of the heap) in the ground at the point where it is required, or in any other convenient manner. In the tank a pump of cheap construction may be placed, to raise the liquid to a sufficient height to be conveyed by a trough to the centre of the heap, and there distributed by means of a perforated board with raised edges, and long enough to reach across the heap in any direction. By altering the position of this board, the liquid may be carried evenly over the whole mass. The appearance of the apparatus required for composting, and the compost laid up, may be better shown by the following figure. [Illustration: Fig. 2. _a_, tank; _b_, pump; _c_ & _g_, perforated board; _d_, muck; _e_, manure; _f_, floor.] [How is the compost made?] The compost is made by laying on the floor ten or twelve inches of muck, and on that a few inches of manure, then another heavy layer of muck, and another of manure, continuing in this manner until the heap is raised to the required height, always having a thick layer of muck at the top. [What liquids are best for moistening the compost? How should they be applied? What are the advantages of this moistening? How does it compare with forking over?]