Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-05-18
Does Composing Pay =

\ lev weeks since We received letter
from correspondent in Maine, recount
ins the details of real or supposed cou-
yersation. between two farmers, VIZ. y.
.nl Mr. b, who have each adopted oppo-
49, practices In their methods Of treating
BARNARD manure for increasing the fer
,ility Of their farms. Nr. 4. carts large
quantities of loan, muck, or other kinds
Of soil into his barn cellar and mixes 1t
Sitb 8 les amour; o. manure, and then
by repeated workings, gets up little
fermentation OF the whole mass, and
claims that bv this method, he really adds
70 the compost what was not IN II origin
aiv. or rather, that By the repeated turn
IN and heating, plant food, which would
otherwise lie dormant, Is developed IN the
crude >oiI. lie al>c claims that Il the
coarse manure were spread directly on
the field aud ploughed in. II would be dis
tyibutel in such small quantities IN q
place that this heating and termsntins
process would 90 on 20 slowly and feebly,
that the effect on the soil would not CON-
pare with his chosen method OF compost
IN. in the ward or pile.
Mr.. b.. on the other hand, does not be-
lieve anything {, added TO the value Of
the loan or muck, except what i taken
from the manure. and If any plant food
is developed from the soil in consequence
Of the composing, the amount Is 30 small,
that the cost of labor of handling 1t j.
too great 10 leave any margin for profit
from the practice He. therefore. draws
MS manure directly 10 the field, and COM
posts it by the use Of the pillow and eulti-
vator. AZ the same time he is killing
vesds and .oosening up his soil, Tor the
beneh, o. the growing plants
Our correspondent wishes Us 10 decide,
whether Mr. A. or Mr.. b i in the righ;
IL this matter OF composing in the yard,
or applying directly to the field. Our
own practice for wears, has been to use
Just enough absorbing materials in our
stables and wards, 10 take up and hold
the liquid portion OF the barn manure, 50
that il can he carted ont 10 the fields IN
ordinary farm carts But We have never
designed 10 Use absorbents beyond this
degree. believing thar the cost Of hand
ling them would more than balance any
advantage from their use in this excess
i've quantity. We have worked upon the
suppositon that absorbing material fur
nisieI ia quantities sufficient 70 retain the
LIQUID portion Of the excrements, would
h ample for retaining al the gases which
would be set free by such decomposition
a. would take place while the manure
lies in the yards or Is being caEted to the
helds
Knowing, however, that our own opin.
ions upon this question are based on Oh
Ssrvations made On the practice, rather
fhan on scientific study, We seut the letter
OF our corresI ,ndeut 10 the Massaehusett,
Agricultural College. where It somehow
COT mislaid. hut the following note in re
Tiy was received from Prot. Levi Stock
bridge. whose position as Professor Of
Agriculture leads him to be particularly
interested in, a well a. peculiarly com
petent 10 decide upon questions Of TIN
character He says
This Is the old, old question, Doe
composing beyond the idea Of absorbing
and retaining, pay the cost Of the labor
II requires % tar a. anybody know.
absolutely, to my knowledge, b. has The
best Of the argument. II Is true, thai
muck, loan. and everything organic, and
-ome things inorganic. possess latent ele
mrnts OF fertility which decomposition vii
make available 10 a certain extent. Ii Il
also true, that the decomposition and fer