there being less hurry with other matters on the farm at that season,
but also, because the freezing and thawing of the peat that is thrown
out, greatly aid to disintegrate it and prepare it for use.

A correspondent of The _Homestead_, signing himself "Commentator," has
given directions for getting out peat that are well worth the attention
of farmers. He says:--

"The composting of muck and peat, with our stable and
barn-yard manures, is surely destined to become one of the
most important items in farm management throughout all the
older States at least. One of the difficulties which lie in
the way, is the first removal of the muck from its low and
generally watery bed; to facilitate this, in many locations,
it is less expensive to dry it before carting, by beginning an
excavation at the border of the marsh in autumn, sufficiently
wide for a cart path, throwing the muck out upon the surface
on each side, and on a floor of boards or planks, to prevent
it from absorbing moisture from the wet ground beneath; this
broad ditch to be carried a sufficient length and depth to
obtain the requisite quantity of muck. Thus thrown out, the
two piles are now in a convenient form to be covered with
boards, and, if properly done, the muck kept covered till the
succeeding autumn, will be found to be dry and light, and in
some cases may be carted away on the surface, or it may be
best to let it remain a few months longer until the bottom of
the ditch has become sufficiently frozen to bear a team; it
can then be more easily loaded upon a sled or sleigh, and
drawn to the yards and barn. In other localities, and where
large quantities are wanted, and it lies deep, a sort of
wooden railroad and inclined plane can be constructed by means
of a plank track for the wheels of the cart to run upon, the
team walking between these planks, and if the vehicle is
inclined to 'run off the track,' it may usually be prevented
by scantlings, say four inches thick, nailed upon one of the
tracks on each side of the place where the wheel should run.
Two or more teams and carts may now be employed, returning
into the excavation outside of this track. As the work
progresses, the track can be extended at both ends, and by
continuing or increasing the inclination at the upper end, a
large and hig