Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-31
Thousand Dollar Compost Heaps.

AhNhoAhh DOlihl NuAl pphb iltdlht
Correspondence of the Tribune
Each succeeding year | am more
than ever before convinced Of the
great value Of my heaps of compost
manures. They are made about as
follows: In the spring when the
teams are hauling from the city,
every load Of very coarse manure is
thrown into heap separate from the
other and finer manures, TO commence
the compost heap for the following
year. This is continued through the
entire season. As soon as the grow.
ing season opens, we begin to gather
refuse from the grounds. If il con
tains anything of value for the pigs.
and sometimes when it does not, il is
thrown into the different hog pens.
some six or seven Of them, and is
worked over there, and then j. hauled
out and thrown into the compost
heap. Potato tops, squash vines.
cabbage stumps, etc, are usually car
ried direct TO the heap. We also get
during the year many loads of fish
refuse from the dealers in the city.
This is Of course possible only in the
neighborhood of large bodies o:
water.
We also get the swccpings Of the
streets Of the city. We do not allow
weeds TO grow, and in tact they do
not grow as they do in many places
that | visit; still in spite Of our
efforts to keep them entirely down, a
want of help at the proper time, or
some other causes, will give them a
chance 10 get a start, and the result
IL that Se have more or less weeds
for the compost heap. Still do not
imagine that | recommend growing
weeds for this purpose. much pre-
fer not 10 have them grow; but if
they will grow IN spit" of u~, put
them to the best possible use. As
the heap grows and The summer
comes on it viii heat. and if not cared
for 1t will be very seriously damaged
in value. TO prevent this wc usually
make the heap near water, and when
il gets so hot rs 10 begin 20 dry and
burn. ~ it surely will if left alone.
we put on sufficient water TO cool II
off, being careful no. TO put on so
much as to drain it.
1t is sometimes difficult to Judge Of
the quantity of water necessary, and
it is well To dig one or more holes by
the side of IL. and in case the water
does drain from it, dip il up and
throw it back on the heap. Even lf
II is some distance 10 water IL will
pay well to haul it with a team rather
than suffer the heap To be at all neg
lected. We also have slop pail
some rods from the house. An the
slops and refuse OF the house is
thrown into a trough which carries it
TO a pit containing fine, dry street
manure, or, if nothing else, the pit is
cleaned ont and contents hauled TO
the heap. In the winter the slops
run out and freeze, on the top Of the
heap, where IL will thaw in the spring,
and add its full value tn the heap.
have n number of loads of this kind
Of ice on one Of my heaps to-day,
and more will be added very soon.
In the fall, when cool weather
comes on, we have the entire heap
worked over, and heap it up about
five or six feet high, fifteen or twenty
feet in width, and as long as materials
will allow. Leave it about level on
the top. We never have sufficient
rain here In the winter TO do it any
harm. 1t will freeze but little-per-
haps none at all during the winter.
Early in spring. before the busy sea
son comes on, commence at one end
Of the heap and work IL all over
thoroughly. IL is now in splendid
condition for use. II is surprising
how large an amount can be gathered
together in this manner during the
year. have two heaps now lying
upon my ground that contain at least
100 cords. What are they WORTH !
do not know, but | would not take
81 900 for them. They have not cost
me that, but If | should part with
them ! could not possibly get stable
manure to replace them, and should
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