The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-22
9be FARM.
Composing Super-Phos-
pilates With Home
Manure.

stable manure Is admitted on all
sides to be IA complete manure, IN
the sense of containing all Of the
more important elements (Phospho-
ric Acid is the principaD which are
contained in such small per centage
that large quantities of the n
must be applied to order to secure
a sufficient quantity of this essen
tial clement for the necessities of
plant sustenance. To upply this
deficiency, superphosphatc is adj
ded to the compost heap. A COM
bination of stable manure and cot
ton seed, In the proportion econ
mended, supplies enough ammonia
for summer crops, but hardly suf-
ficient for winter small grain, unless
applied at the rate of 400 pounds
per acre. The sulphate of lime
contained in every superphosphate,
besides being otherwise valuable as
Il chemical agent, eryes to fix the
ammonia 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. Pen
dleton and others, as far as results
on crops are concerned, is satisfacto-
~, 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 examination. This ne
cesitates stirring the manure just
before planting, which would risk
ing some of it to the surface, or
the crop must be planted on a hard
bed. Another difficulty under the
general practice is that stock would
have to be taken out of the field be-
fore spring. This would be advan-
tageous to the land, but would give
the planter some inconvenience.
There is no labor saved by this sys-
tenn bat 1t 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 m%anipula-
ton of the heap. There are two
methods %practiced with equally sat
isfactory results:
One is to apply the different in
gradients in successive layers. and
cut down vertically after "A thor
ough fermentition has taken place,
mixing well with the shovel at the
same time.
The effects of composts 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. l..
Stable Manure lbs.
Cotton seed (green). .........-..75O 4"
Acid Phos. of Dissolved Bone. $50 d"
MdkluS a tOfl ,UUO lUS.
DIRECTIONS FOR COMPoSTING.
Spread under shelter a layer of
stable manure for inches thick; on
this sprinkle a portion of the Phos-
phate; next spread a layer of cot
ton seed three inches thick; wet
these thoroughly with water and
then apply more of the Phosphate.
Next spread another layer of stable
manure three inches thick, and
continue to repeat these layers in
the above older, and in proportion
to the quantity of each used to the
ton. until the material is consumed.
Cover the whole mass with stable
manure, or scraping from the LOT
one or two inches thick. Allow the
heap to stand in this condition un.
til a thorough fermentation take:
place, which will require from three
to six weeks, according to circum
stances dependent upon proper
degree of moisture, and the strength
of the materials used. When the cot
ton seed is thoroughly killed, will
ii sharp hoe, or mattock, cut down
vertically through the layers: pull
verize and shovel into a heap, wher
the fermentation will be renewed
and compost be still further i'm
proved. Let it lie two weeks afte
cutting down; it will then be read
for use.
The following plan of mixin
gives equally satisfactory results
Mix the cotton seed and stable m;
nure in proper proportion, mois.e
them with water, apply the prope
proportion of Phosphate, and mi
thoroughly, shoyeling into a ma'
as prepared.