The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-09-15
Aarifnltnral.

| MASumAL yALuE or LAWS eli wss
10 one of The middle States, says writer
IN the New England Homestead. where
this experiment Of mine with leaves was
tried and the soil was light
sAady loan. There was DO fertility IN is
natural condition 70 produce over twelve
bushels Of shelled corn 10 the acre IIsy
lug previously applied commercial ieriili.
zes 81 varied names aud brands on the
same description Of land With resulting
balance ON the debtor side Of the ledger,
and no, being able TO obtain stable ma.
nure except II al exorhltAnt price, set
about ths collection for the compost heap.
A neighbor very kindly gave me permits.
sion 10 remove all the leaves from his
woodland that might desire, found
them in large quantities in fresh as well
as partly decayed condition collected
80 one. horse loads In the course Of the
fall ADD winter Afterwards could net
help thinking that my neighbor's wisdom
was in inverse proportion 10 his generosi-
ty. The leaves, except enough 10 furnish
a bedding for horse. COW and pig,
were deposited in a basin shaped barn
yard. The contents of the stables were
daily added 10 the pile. and load OF
leaves were added from time TO time, the
precaniion being taken 10 keep the mass
well moistened, by March my compost
heap had attained to gigantic dimensions.
Ii was then carefully worked over with a
manure fork aud covered with two or
three inches of earth During the process
of fermentation. which soon ensued, water
was occasionally added to check the ten
dency Of excessive heat aud hasten the de-
composition and oxidation of the leaves.
A marker somewhat in the shape of a
sled, with runners four feet apart, was run
both ways across the field and at the in.
terseetion of the lines, some of this com
post, which, when opened, was found to
be tolerably well rotted and Of dark col
or, was dropped, Now for the result The
corn was planted on the first Of May. The
plant from its first appearance was noted
for its dark, rich color, color that il
retained nearly TO the period Of maturity.
The growth was rank and foliage luxu.
RANT. There were about twelve acres in
the field II was cultivated twice and
hoed once Care was taken to keep the
ground as level as possible The product
was little over LOO bushels of sound
and merehantablo 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 de-
rived from horse,a COW and pig. Con
most of the plant food which
fed and.nourished those / 200 bushels OF
ears of corn was furnished by the decom-
posed forest leaves. To be sure it required
time and labor to collect them, but this
is equally true OF all agricultural opera
ions.
Now when read anything in disparage-
ment OF forest leaves as an aid to the fertil- |
ity of the soil, / recall the little experience
Of mine more than twenty years ago, and
smile with incredulity. And think ! am
justified in doing so by the result of that
experiment. Since that time have, as
offered, made use of leaves to
enlarge my compost heap, first using them
Tor bedding for animals, and, for that pur-
pose, consider them of great value.