Connecticut western news., 1883-04-11
Thousand Dollar CompOst.Heaps.

President J. M Smith of the Wiscon- sin Horticultural Society says Please give me a little space to again urge upon your farmer readers the great value of the compost heap. do not urge it as theory, but as the result of many years of actual experience I have tried, in moderate way, one and another of the commercial fertilizer and while have no complaint to make as to their value, 1t seems to me that our farmers, as 8 rule, can do better. I commenced haul ing for my compost heaps last spring, throwing into them all the coarse refuge, whether it was coarse manure, street sweepings, fish refuge, pig manure weeds from the garden, potato tops, pea-vines, in fact, anything and every thing that supposed would be of value. At times, when they seemed to be get ting too hot, I had water thrown upon them in sufficient quantity to cool, but not to drain from them. During the fall they were worked over. They have been heating very little all winter, about sufficient to keep them from freezing We are now working the largest one over again, after which 1t will be ready for use. I am aware that it may be urged against this, that it will cost time, labor and some money yes, my farmer friends, it does and so do all of the good things that I know of in this world. I cannot tell what the two heaps have cost me, as they have been gathered at such times as we could spare men and teams from other work. I am now pay ing twenty-five cents per cord for work ing over, and will have, after this is done, not less than 175 and perhaps 200 cords, and in splendid condition for i'm mediate use As near as I can judge, the cost will be from $500 to $4OO. How about their value for the coming sea- sons crops?
 I shall also have an immense amount of good stable and barnyard manures, much more ill bulk than these heaps, and believe that no man values them higher than myself, but when and where I want my land to give me the largest possible crops, and those of the greatest value, there goes my compost manure. Why? Simply because many years experience tells me that crops will start up more vigorously, and grow ul more rapidly with this manure than with an equal amount of the best stable ma. nure. It is reasonable that this should be the case, as it is more nearly ready fol plant food than any coarse or unprepareo manure could be. I cannot give your readers the actual value of these heaps but if any man should come to-day and say: "I will deposit $1, ,00O to you credit in the bank if you will allow me to haul away your compost heaps,' should answer: My faiend, I have late ly been purchasing some property, anc my bank account is unusually low, but do not need oney bad enough to make such sacrifice as that would be to ob tain it." I have never used these ma nures upon any crops where they did no tell the same story. l will not pretend that the mingling of the different materials makes each and every one O them more valuable than they otherwise would be. It is possible that if eact was taken in it's crude state and plowet under, it's value to the land might be a. great as when in its present condition But should be years instead of 8 fev weeks or months in getting my returns Merchants think "small profits ant quick returns best ill the long run
 With me this plan of fertilizing has neve failed to give quick returns and large profits, or at least large crops.
 HoRsEsHoEs. Mention is made of l l., of