The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-10
FARMS AND FARMERS.
Short Talks With the Men Who
Guide the PloW.
GENERAL FARM TOPICS DISCUSSED
Making Composts.

cOmpOSIS: one is by cOinDulInS several I'M
perfect or incomplete manures to obtain
complete one; the other to bring about
breaking down or decomposition of materials,
which rot slowly and yield UP their plant food
content through heightened periods. No nat
ural or unmanipulated manure is we'll bal
anced for all crops Horse stable manure is
well suited to some crops, and smOre or less
beneficial to all, but there are conditions under
which it does harm if freely applied. Cow,
sheep and pig manurcs. each have their indi-
yidual peculiarities and differ from horse
manure. Observing farmers recognize these
facts and mix all Of them together. Horse
manure fermcnts and contains too
much ammonia forming material
for some crops. Hence, it fires corn in dry sea-
sons, and causes wheat to fall down or lodge,
If applied in large quantity, Cow manure on
the other hand fcwnents slowly, is rather de-
ficient in nitrogen-forming matter, but rather
rich in phosphates. Mixing the two equal
ICES matters, restraints the too rapid fermenta-
ton Of the horse manure, which is apt to en-
tail loss OF ammonia, and quickens the slug
gish COW manure into desirable activity, takes
excess of nitrogen from first, andwith it makes
up the deficit of nitrogen in the second. Both
theory and practice, therefore, commend the
mixing together Of the several kinds Of ma
nure that collect about q barnyard. But after
this is done, the resulting manure is not per-
feet ono for crops cultivated for
their grains rather than leaves and
stalks. For somo forage crops and for
many vegetables. mixed barnyard manure is
often most excclledt, because it is the leaves
and stalks of such crops that constitute thor
value, and nitrogen and potash prominent
elements of stable manure-promote the de-
yelopmCnt OF these. But for the promotion of
seed, phosphates are needed, and these are
deficient III yard or stable manurcs. Hence
practice of adding acid phosphates to compost
heaps. 1t completes and perfects them, espe-
cially for our leading farm crops, such as corn,
wheat, oats, cotton seed, etc. For although
the lint of cotton is the object of its cultiva-
ton, the production of seed is preliminary and
essential to the the formation of lint.
The second object in composing is to de-
compose comparatively inert material, such as
contain plant food, but in forms which
are not available, leaves, straw
stacks, &c. These, if buried in the soil, will
rot eventually, but ofttimes after the crop has
finished growth and can no longer use them.
A whole year may be lost. Composing them
caves time, enables us TO realize promptly and
time should be as important thing to far
mer as it is to a money lender, or merchant.
1t is even more important, because a farmer
turns over his labor (money) generally but
once year. He can grow but one cotton or
corn crop in year. When, therefore, he ap-
plies manure to any crop his interest is to get
as much benefit from it to that crop as posi-
BILE. He caunot afford to wait till the second,
third or fourth year to realize on it, any moro
than money lender can put out his money
without interest for the first year. on condition
that it draws interest the second year. Some
farmers attach great value to Lasting" ma
nure. 1t lasts only because the crops
can get only little OF it at
time. 1t doles out food in
small doses. A manure that yields up its
plant food promptly is especially needed by
crops that mature quickly-lile carly corn,
German milct, etc. Crops like cotton, that
take long time to complete growth, are not
so eXacting in their demand for a well rotted
manure; they can wait longer. But, as rule,
1t is best to have well rotted manure. Tho
fennenting of a comnost heap is somewhat
like the rising of bread by yeast. A little fer
menting yeast makes the whole mass of dough
fermcnt. So a little nitrogenous manure mix
ed with those less so, eXcites fermentation in
the whole. Horse manure, cotton'seed, or cot
ton seed meal, act as leaYen to COW manure,
leaves, straw, ETC., and little of the former
will rot a good deal of the later The present
is good time to mako composts into which
much litter enters. Those made up of more
concentrated materials may be put up later.
w, LII.
g. G., Pleasant Hill, Ala: /. have about two
tons OF stable manure and one and half of COW
manure that want TO mix with one ton of cotton
seed meal for Please give the proper proper
tons. Would it be best TO use phosphate and how
much? ,. thought hat when planted the corn
Iwould put The mixture Of manure on top ana
cover, but some Of my friends say that it would be
best to wait until bar the corn orr the first time,
and then pat on either side Of the hill. v hat do
you think about i2 g. / want to plant about eight
acres. WIN this amount Of manure be enough for
this much land?
list. As stable manure is disposed TO "lire'
corn in dry weather, it is suggested that you
use that for some other purpose and use COW
manure, cotton seed meal and phosphate for
the corn-I2GO pounds each Of cotton seed meal
and acid phosphate, we'll mixed with the cow
manure, viii make good manuring for eight
acres. Mix and damPen thoroughly and let it
go through a fermentation to reduce the COW
manure. See TO it, however, that tho mass
does not get too hot. Put under shelter,
tramp we'll, and add more water if it gets too
hot for the hand to bean it.
End. Opinions differ as to mode of applica-
LONESOME put in drill near the hill OF corn,
but not in contact with seed at time Of plant
ing-others in barring furow. We prefer the
latter
Bird. Answered above.
A. G., Ocaa, Fla: VIII rye make good feed for
horses and cattle, if cut before being fully ripe and
fed without thEashins? Or will it pay me Letter to
plow it under as a fertilizer for corn? q cannot
pasture as have orange groves in part OF the same
6eld.)
If rye is cut before it heads out it makes fair
forage; it becomes woody very rapidly after
blooming. If allowed to mature its grain the
straw is worth something as forage, but not
much, and tho grain, if not ground passes
through animals without being digestcd. We
should either cut it before heading and cure as
hay, or else cat when mature, leaving as high
stubble as possible on the land, and grind
the grain and feed to stock, or sell the whole
grain, rs one prefers,
T. r. Coxburg Ms lst. What Is the best grass
to sod hillside land with that will produce an ordi
nary year 500 10 1000 pounds seed cotton per acre.
Would grass that would make q good sod be good
for pasture or hay Would you suggest one or more
erase, How wonll orchard, redtop and timothy
grasses do in equal parts! How much Of one or more