heat is generated in the pile in this way. Though the compost may
seem to be of good quality, Viktor Schauberger believed that as the
heat discourages earthworms, it will not be of the best quality. His
preference is a cold process that produces a higher content of pro-
tein and other immaterial, fructigenic energies. He also believed it
important to protect the compost from element-hungry juvenile
rainwater that will tend to leach out some of the nutrients.
Although shown here on a small scale, the same principle can be
applied to larger compost heaps. Schauberger preferred an egg-
shaped compost heap built up under a large fruit-tree with a broad
canopy as shown in Fig. 17.1.
A hollow is dug out of the ground round the base of the tree whose
trunk is then wrapped loosely with several layers of newspaper, which
Fig. 17.1. The egg-shaped compost heap.- ORGANIC CULTIVATION