The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-06-16
farm aud Garden.
Composts.-Continued.

them under cover as thus, the liquid por-
tions are not washed away by rains. The
disadvantage is that the additional labor
must be incurred of pouring water over
them occasionally, to promote termenta-
ton, and prevent the manure from hring'
If not formed under shelter, then it is
best to select gentle slope, and to dig
from where the compost is to be formed
small ditch at the mouth of which is to
be placed a barrel to catch the drainage,
which is to be poured over the pile from
time to time. In forming the compost
heap, it is best to raise it against some
boards nailed against posts, to shape it
properly and to sustain it. From these
boards grade the ground from each end
gently towards the ditch to catch any
liquid manure which may run Off The
ditch should extend into the heap, and be
covered over with boards to prevent its
filling up, and it should extend a sufficient
distance down the slope to give fall
enough for the drainage to run off. The
heap is to be formed by making first
layer of stable manure, and then adding
first one ingredient and then another 1t
is better to fork over the pile occasional
ly; when finished, it should be covered
over several inches with dirt. If dissolved
bone is not used, some plaster should be
intermingled with the layers to prevent
escape of ammonia.
Prof Pendleton advises the following
mode of forming a compost heap, which
has some decided advantages
Have comfortable, covered and sepa-
rate stalls for all your stock. Cover the
floor several inches thick with dry chip
manure, pine straw, oak leaves, or other
litter. AS it becomes saturated with urine
and excrement, add more, so as to keep a
dry bed for the cattle to stand or lie on.
Occasionally it is proper to reverse the
position of the central and saturated por-
tions and the untrodden outside part.
The stalls should never be touched until
after Christmas, as they accumulate and
hold most of the valuable salts by this
process. Then break up and chop into
small pieces the accumulated mass, and
make your compost heap thus: layer
of stable manure six inches thick, with
good sprinkling of ground phosphate over
it, then layer of cotton seeds three
inches thick previously saturated with
water) then another layer of the ground
phosphate, say half an inch thick, then
layer of stable manure, and SO on until
the heap is completed, which should be
conical in form. Over the whole heap,
when sufficiently large, apply several
inches of dry clay soil, which will absorb
every particle of escaping ammonia. If,
however, this crust should become so
saturated as to allow it to escape, YOU
can easily determine the fact by holding
over it piece of red litmus paper
(moistened) at different points of the
heap; the escaping ammonia will change
the red to blue, and an additional coat
ing of soil+ can be applied. The heaps
should be put up soon after Christmas
and not touched till ready to put in the
corn or cotton beds in March or April
In the meantime the stalls should be re-
plenished and not touche / again for
twelve months, only in the way indi-
Gated above. When the manure is hauled
out, every layer in the heaps should be
chopped down, and be well mixed and
pulverized. 1t should be taken from
wagons and carefully applied in baskets
at the rate of 500 to 900 pounds to the
acre, at the bottom of a shovel furrow.
and then bedded on Immediately. This
is the best process known to manufacture
At'A IL oAu uiduuIGl DIS dudpJeQ 10 our
circumstances. By this you save all the
valuable elements of dung and urine.
converting the nitrogen into ammonia
for prompt and efficient action the first
year, and relieving the manure to large
extent, OF the heavy masses Of water
found IN manures when exposed out
doors You have the NITROGEN
converted into ammonia instead of w.
ing out exposed to the teaching rains
and evaporating winds of winter. i
We are satisfied that such mixture will
pay better than any other at the same
cost, and the whole plan is adapted to
scarcity of labor, as there is the least pos
slble expense attending it, being handled
but once before it is ready to be carted
to the fields. Sometimes it may be
necessary to change the beds oftener.
owing to the rapid generation of am
monia, which rises and causes the horses
feet to become sore. For some tender
footed horses it would be better to re-
move the litter every morning"
We are disposed to think very favor
ably OF this plan Of Prof Pendleton. The
only objection that we can think of against
1T, is the one he last mentions But we
have seen in old times" horses standing
on their manure In tba NM, pr D. o