The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-14
Che 9arnl.
The Philosophy Of Composing

As all the energies of the planter,
who is thoroughly posted IN REGARD
to his business. are now directed te
securing for the coming
crop we print the formulas OF the
Georgia Agricultural Department.
For summer crops, III orr eli
mate. there is too inch Ammonld
in some of the brands (of fertilizers
unless a portion Of II Is IN such
combination as to render 1t only
gradually invaluable. For winter
crops a high per cent. OF Ammonia
is yery desirable. There should be
a difference also. in the application
of fertilizers to winter crops. Since
there is generally an abundance OF
moisture during their period Of
growth, the fertilizers should be
applied near the surface Of the soil
readily accessible to the numerous
fbrous surface roots of the plants.
In summer the fertilizer, or part
Of it is deposited deeper, IN
order that it may be in reach of
moisture during drought.
Composting Superphosphates mtM
Home Nanures.-When we consld-
er the fact that the farmers of
Georgia expended nearly three and
half million dollars last season for
fertilizers, even on a cash basis,
the question of the most economl-
cal mode of permanently improving
our soils, and at the same time pro-
ducing remuneratlye crops, is one
of vital Importance to u people.
The Phlosophy Of Composttng.-
Stable manure is admitted on all
sides to be a complete manure, IN
the sense of containing all of the
necessary elements Of plant food.
There + some of the more impor-
tant elements (Phosphoric Acid is
the principaD which are contained
in such small per centage that large
quantities of the manure must be
applied in order to secure sufficient
quantity of this essential element
for the necessities of plant susie
nance. TO supply this deficiency,
superphosphate is added to the
compost heap. A combination of
stable manure and cotton seed, in
the proportions recommended, sup
plies enough Ammonia for summer
crops, but hardly sufficient for win
ter small grain, unless applied at
the rate Of 400 pounds per acre.
The sulpnate of lime contained in
every super phosphate, besides be-
ing otherwise valuable as a chemi-
cal agent, serves to fix the Ammo
MIA generated in the progress of
decomposition in the compost heap.
The fermentation reduces the
coarse material, and prepares it for
the use of the plant.
Composing IN the Ground.-This
is advocated by Prof. Pendleton
and others, and as far as results on
crops are concerned, is satisfactory,
but has some serious objections in
practice. If cotton seed are used,
they must be put into the ground
before warm weather commences,
to prevent termination. This ne
cessitates stirring the manure just
before planting, which would risk
bringing some Of it to the surface,
or the crop must be planted on a
hard bed. There is no labor saved
by this system, but it is applied at
a season of comparative leisure.
Composing Under Shelter. This
may usually be done on rainy days,
or when the ground is too wet for
the pillow, so that little time need
be lost by the manipulation of the
heap. There are two methods
practiced with equally satisfactory
results:
One is to apply the different in
gradients in successive layers and
cut down vertically after a thorough
fermentation has taken place, mix
ing well with the shovel at the same
time.
The other to mix thoroughly the
ingredients at first, and allow the
mass to stand until used.
The effects OF compost thus pre-
pared far exceed the indications of
analysis, and, cost considered, are
truly remarkable.
Formula for Composting.-If the
stable manure and cotton seed have
been preserved under shelter, use
the following:
FORMULA NO. /.
Stable manure. $50 lbs.
Cotton seed (green). .......... 700 "
Acid Phosphate or Dissolved
500 "
Muriate of potash ......... 90 d"
Directions for C0mposting.-
Spread under shelter a layer of sta
BILE manure four inches thick; on
this sprinkle a portion of the phos-
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