The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-02-28

HOMEMADE FERTILIzERs.-In accord
ance with article Sd of the resolutions adopt
ed in a farmers mass meeting, held at
Greenville Court House on the Sd inst,
the committee on "Best mode of compost
ing and utilizing the materials of the farm
for purposes of fertilization" beg leave to
report:
That in view of the fact that only short
time remains till the season for the applica-
ton of manures for the crops Of the present
year, your committee have thought best to
conhne themselves to tho mode of prepar-
ing such compost as will be soonest ready
for use, and which, from practical expert.
ence, they are willing to recommend, viz:
Let place, or more than one, as may be
necessary, be prepared in the field upon
which the compost ia to bo used, by max
ing level and smooth space of twelve or
fifteen feet in diameter; then haul say thir-
ty bushels Of cotton seed and place near
the spaces, one sack Of SALT this being
done, commence hauling stable or barn yard
manure, and with shovels Or forks, put
layer of manure three or four inches thick
on the spaces prepared for the compost heap;
then sprinkle cotton seed and salt as the
manure is unloadcd, at the rate of five
bushels of seed if the manure is from the
stable, or ten bushels if barn yard manure
is used, and one bushel of salt to each two
horse load of manure. At least each third
load should be of woods mold, rakipgs
from fence corners or the dirt from under
meath old houses, with which the cotton
seed and salt must be mixed, as with the
pf fhnr ho sc
made up to a point like potato bank,
strike it sharpely with board or the back
of shovel all over, so as to make it CON-
pact; then cover the heap with earth to
the thickness of three or four inches, and
the work is done. No water should be
used, as the moisture of the ingredients
will be sufficient to produce fermentation,
so that in two or three weeks it will be
ready for use. One small handful is sufi-
cient to each hill of con- on thin land, and
just as small a quantity as can be put in
the drill with an ordinary manure box is
enough to equal the yield of cotton that is
commonly produced by the use Of CONNER
cial fertilizers.
The reasons of the above plan for COM
posting are as follows:
ioo ~ iSiu 10 viz oCS0 pldSC COLl-
posting, because extra handling is avoided
and all ABSORPTION by the earth in utilized.
I'd. The ground must be smooth so that
all the compost may be easily taken up.
Sd. Good stable manure is highly ammo
mated, and therefore cotton seed (Which al
20 contains a great deal of 'ammonia) need
not be so freely useI as with barn-yard ma
nurc.
4th. Salt is used because it contains
manuring properties of its own, is taken
up largely without undergoing any chemi>
cal changcS), by growing plints, and there
fore is preventive Of injury to the plants
by insects, it also attacts moisture, thereby
aiding in the fermentation of the other in
gradients
9th. Woods mould, rakings of fence
corners, &c, contain vegetable matter, and
absorbs escaping ammonia from the manure,
cotton seed, &c.
9th. The heap is covered with earth in
order to keep out rain, and keep in all
escaping gasses
Respectfully submitted
Nj. l.. DONALDSON,
Chairman Of Committee.