The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-17
Compost Fertilizers.

Compost fertilizers will become an OBJ
ject of interest and Importance to our
farmers in the ratio that they study and
make themselves familiar with the
changes Effected by the fermentation of
the compost heap. And we, therefore,
earnestly advise all farmers to double
their diligence in this direction for the
future, and cease TO expend their money
for that which they can make just as
good themselves. We told you in this
column q few weeks ago that one ton Of
phosphate -four and one ton of cotton
seed, composted with one ton stable ma
nure and two or three hundred pounds
German Eainit, for six or eight weeks,
will make as good fertilizer as you ever
used, and at one fourth the cost. Messrs.
VIM. Blrriss, John B. Watson, G. w.
Long, q. s. Mattison and ]. w. Norris
made and used a fertilizer by this formu-
la last year. and are so we'll plessed with
its results that they will use double the
amount the present year. Although
these parties received their phosphate
-four so late last spring that their expert
ment could scarcely be regarded a fair
one, not having more than three or iouF
weeks to complete the compost. Colonel
Mattison tried two or three ammoniated
guahos on cotton alongside of his COM
post, and could see no difference in
growth or production. The writer made
his compost in the stable and did not re-
move it until it was taken up to distri-
butte in the cotton bedr. This formula
has been successfully used by Georgia
farmers, and we could give score of
favorable certificates from those parties.
1t is really Georgia formula, and is the
same circulated among our farmers over
the signature of "E. T. Paine, Secretary
of Trade rTnion." DR.. Ledoux, Agricul-
tural Chemist of North Carolina, recon-
mends similar formula for composing.
Phosphate -four is the base Of ali COM
mercial guano, and when treated with
sulphuric acid becomes acid phosphate,
and that skilfully manipulated with Pc
ruvian guano, fish scraps and blood, fur
nishes the ammonia, &C., to make a COM
plete guano. But it has been ascertained
that the chemical action which takes
place By fermentation in the compost
heap will render soluble and make the
pho ohate -four available without tho
use of sulphuric acid, which ia costly
article, and makes up nearly one-half
the weight of acid phosphate. Hence,
the manifest economy in purchasing the
base, and by our own labor and skill secure
its solubility, with the necessary ammo
MIA, &C., to make first-class fertilizer.
But if our farmers cannot 5e induced
to compost with phosphate 6car, then
the next cheapest fertilizer would be a
compost of stable manure, cotton seed
and acid phosphate, and if you cannot
afford to make compost of that, mix it
well with cotton seed. stable manure and
LOT scrapings, and put it in the cotton
beds two or three weeks before planting
time, and it will give nearly as satissac-
tory results as the high-priced ammonia
ted guanos, at considerably less cost. We
have no private interest to advance by
what we have said in this article, other
than the great desire we have to see our
farmers prosper and succeed in their
business,