This should be prepared in the early spring for use in the hills, and
if it can be stacked in the fall and allowed to rot through the winter,
it will be all the better. It can be composed of barnyard scrapings,
well-rotted manure, chicken manure, night soil, or other strong
fertilizer, mixed with at least an equal bulk of soil or ashes. This
should be wet enough to rot thoroughly, but should not be allowed to
lie exposed to the weather where its strength will leach away. When
thoroughly mixed, I place it in old barrels under a shed and pour water
on top of each barrel occasionally, to keep it rotting.