A well-made and productive compost heap is a satisfactory affair, affording the keeper an air of quiet superiority. There is plenty of surplus foliage around now to get a new one started. Ideally, the heap should be framed in well-ventilated timber and raised a little off the ground, perhaps on some old bricks. Build up layers of plant material chopped into even pieces, and weigh them down as the heap rises. Keep it moist, not wet or dry, and start the decay process by applying a high-nitrogen ingredient. A small quantity of human urine is ideal-applied discreetly, of course.
* Gardening calendar: October jobs
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Canine muses: David Hockney's chocolate dachshunds, Stanley and Boodgie — who he painted over 40 timesIn the second edition of our limited series, we meet some more of the dogs who've inspired our greatest artists.
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50 years ago, the English country house seemed headed for extinction. Instead it was the start of a new golden ageRather than perceiving the mid 20th century as a troubled period in the history of the country house, John Martin Robinson argues that it was perhaps one of the most interesting, unexpected and enterprising. All photography from the Country Life Image Archive, by June Buck, Paul Barker, Val Corbett, Will Pryce and Paul Highnam.
