Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-06-17
Manurial Value Of Leaves.

II was in ore of the Middle States"
says u writer in the New England
Homestead, "wherc this experiment of
mine with leaves was tried and the soil
was light sandy loan. There was not
fertility in its natural condition to
produce over twelve bushels of shelled
applied commercial fertilizers ofvarious
names and brands on the same descrip-
ton of land with resulting balance on
the debtor side of the ledger, and not
being able to obtain stable manure ox-
cept at an oXorbitant price, | set about
the collection of leaves for the compost
heap. A neighbor very kindly gavo
me permission to remove all the leaves
from his woodland that might desire,
and in the hollows and along the fences
found them in large quantities in a
fresh as well as partially decayed con-
dition. / collected 100 one-horse loads
in tho course of the fall and winter.
Aflerward could not help thinking
that my neighbor's wisdom was in
inverse proportion to his generosity.
The leaves, except enough TO furnish
bedding for horse, q COW and n pig,
were deposited in basin shaped barn.
yard. The contents OF the stables were
daily added to the pile and load oj
leaves was added from time to time,
the precaution being taken TO keep the
mass we'll moistencd. BY March my
compost heap had attained to gigantic
dimensions. 1t was then carefully
worked over with q manure fork and
covered with two or three inches OF
earth. During the process of fermen.
tation, which soon ensucd, water
was occasionally added to check the
tendency of excessive heat and hasten
the decomposition and oxidation OF
the leaves. A marker somewhat in the
shape of sled with runners four feet
apart was run both ways across the
field, and at the intersection of the lines
some of this compost, which, when
opened, was found to be tolerably well
rotted and of dark color, was dropped.
Now for the result The corn was
planted the 1st of May. The plant
from its first appearance was noted for
its dark, rich color, color that it re-
tanned nearly to the period of maturity.
The growth was rank and the foliage
luxuriant. There were about twelve
acres in the field, 1t was cultivated
twice and hoed once. Care was taken
to keep the ground rs level as possible.
The product was. little over twelve
hundred bushels of sound and mer-
cbantable corn in the ear, besides some
inferior ears which fed to my pigs. IL
must be remembered that all the ami
NAL manure in the compost heap was
derived from n horse, COW and pig.
Consequently most of the plant food
which fed and nourished those 200
bushels of ears of corn was furnished
by the decomposed forest leaves. To
be sure, it required time and labor to
collect them, but that is equally true of
all agricultural operations. Now when
l read anything in disparagement of
forest leaves us an aid to the fertility of
the soil l recall the little experiment of
mine more than twenty years ago and
smile with incredulity. And think l
am justified in doing so by the results
of that experiment. Since that time
have, as opportunity offered, made use
of leaves TO enlarge my compost heap,
first using them for bedding for my ami
mails, and, for that purpose, consider
them of great value"