The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-14
Two Great Formulas.

Scarcely a week passes without u
or more requests for the formula Of
"Dickson's compound, and also for
"Furman's formula" In order TO graf
ify many readers, these formulas are
given here, and all persons interested in
farming matters will do well 10 cut out
this item and paste it in their scrap
books.
The celebrated Dicksen's compound
is prepared according 10 the following
formula:
Peruvian pounds
Dissolved pounds
Common Sa.t..............luOp pounds
Land Plaster.............. 50 pounds
Well mixed.
This compound has long been extern
sively used by Southern farmers, and
stands deservedly high in the popular
estimation.
The ..Furman formula is best set
forth in the words Of Mr.. Furman him.
self:
ITO prepare the compost | select a
piece of ground convenient TO my lots,
SO as TO avoid unnecessary hauling of
my heavy manure. taking care that t
is not in a low spot, where water
might collect and sepe the heap, and
having cleaned it carefully, scatter my
stable manure evenly over ii, never
allowing it 10 be more than three inches
thick, when the manure IS well scatter
ed. If it is dry | sprinkle water over it,
and this is something that must by no
means be omitted. Water, and a plenty
of it, is a necessity in a properly regula-
ted compost heap. where decomposition
and nhannica1 raaNtInnS ara xra 1tIah lp and
essential. Each layer, both manure aud
cotton seed should be thoroughly wetted
as it is layed down, as otherwise one dry
layer running through your heap may
give you cotton seed that will come up
give great trouble. especially if the crop
is planted with selected seed.
The compost heap should not be built
more than FIVE feet high: Keep the
edges as nearly perpendicular as possible,
and finish it off on the top Sith a cover
inches thick. The heap should stand
after completion at least six weeks be-
fore, using it, and if 1t could be SO ar
ranged hat at the end of six weeks 1t
could be cut perpendicularly down, mixed
thoroughly and allowed to stand a month
longer, it would improve the compost. [
HAM SUCu uudulltlCS Vi IL lad 4 hdNS
not time to do this, but as a rule, the
more compost is mixed and manipulated
the better it is.
Take twenty-five (25) bushels well rot
ted stable manure or well rotted organic
matter, as leaves, muck or rich top earth,
scatter it about three inches thick upon
a piece of ground situated so that water
will not stand on it but shed off in every
direction. The twenty five (25) bushels
will weigh about $50 pounds; then take
$50 pounds of Parish Furman's for
mula," or chemicals for compost, and
scatter evenly on the surface. Take next
twenty five (25) bushels of green cotton
seed and distribute evenly or the surface
and wet them thoroughly they will weigh
$50 pounds. Take again $50 pounds
Parish Furman' 5 formula or chemicals
for compost, and spread over the seed.
We now have 1000 pounds, or one ton.
We then go back to the stable manure,
or muck, or rich earth, and pile up in
this way as high as we can go -keeping
above proportlon-then cover with six
inches of rich top earth from fence cor
ners, and leave a. least SIX weeks When
ready to haul to the field, cut with a
spade or pick-aK, square down, and mix
as thoroughly as possible. Now we have
twenty-five (25) bushels of manure
weighing $50 pounds, and $50 pounds of
Parish Furman's formula" or chemi
Gals for compost, and twenty five bushels
of cotton seed, weighing $50 pounds
then put $50 pounds more of Parish
Furman's formula" or chemicals for
compost. and we nave the perfect COM
post. You perceive the weight is 1900
pounds, value, at cash cost:
$50 pounds cotton seed, % bushels,
10 cents per bushel. So so
500 pounds Parish Fuman's for
mula," or chemicals for compost,
post, 5000 per ton, s 6 30
80 pounds manure, or muck, or
rotted leaves nominal, 25 bush
els, say allow for hauling, 5 | 90
Total 1000 pounds, or one ton per-
feet compost, $40 90
One ID ton Of the chemicals makes
tour AZ tons compost.
This mixture makes practically a per
feet manure for cotton and a splendid APP
plication for corn. Our farmers do not
appreciate cotton seed. That comes
nearer to being a perfect fertilizer than
any one thing 10 the world. and yet over
100, 900 bushels were sold at my depot
for a trife and hauled away.
with his cotton seed and stable man
ure saved and composed with decayed
leaves, pine straw, ETC., any farmer can
become rich if he wants to, and double
the value of his land in three years"