The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-04-06
Valuable Farm Composts.

DeIOre huOpJeu plan OF composing
all fertilizing material. l top-dressed
meadow land, and sometimes gained
good profit by it, but if dry weather fol-
lowed lost the better part of the food
elements, and sometimes nearly all of
it. dragged the meadows first, and
then again after putting on the fertil.
izers; plan always to be commended.
But still l was wasting what l could
not afford to lose. Meanwhile there
was great supply of humus material,
that could not be used at all in this
way, such as autumn leaves and old
straw. These L often used for mulch
ing, and got some benefit from them,
but they finally for the most part sent
back their elements into the air.
My first lesson was composing leaves
with coal ashes. found that coal
ashes was of great benefit on clay soil,
enabling the land to receive fertilizing
elements from the air, while the value
as mulch was also considerable. Mixed
with leaves, found that the leaves
were turned more readily TO humus,
and the resultant was a useful material
to pillow into clay soil. Then began
the plan, which now pursue, of COM
pOoblhB ONOlJthlhS Lhut WOulu manu-
fertilizing material. l have nine acres;
one-half is ornamental hedges, drives
and lawns, the other half in fruit gar
den. When 1 took this place could
not get half ton of grass to the acre.
Now L sell from $500 to 81 900 worth
of berries and fruit, including honey
and other items. Besides this we use
all that we desire of fruit, eggs, milk
and vegetables, certainly not less than
$400 worth every year. l have stopped
buying commercial fertilizers altogeth-
er, and apply composts only.
There are five compost piles, kept
constantly in the process of making and
distributing. They are placed where
most convenient of access, and most
convenient for being applied. They
are by no means made on the uniform
system. But as rule l get a large
basis of autumn leaves. On this in win
ter are placed all the coal ashes 1 can
make, or procure of others. Layered
with these are loads of barn-yard ma
nure. Added are loads of waste of all
sorts. 1t is surprising how much of
this material one will find when he has
once begun to look for it. There are
sure to be neighbors throwing away
what you know the value of, and can
get for drawing away, or for small
sum. 1t is seldom that few loads of
old plaster or lime cannot be got, where
house repairs are going on. This is in
valuable, If there are boarding houses
near, their refuse piles are sure to be
rich in fertilizing material. Mean.
while never overlook the chance to
obtain coal ashes. These generally
contain considerable wood ashes, but
are of themselves important,
In the spring turf is frequently pro-
durable, soil from bitches, road waste
with manure, muck, and in all cases
there is great supply of weeds. All
of these materials go into my piles.
Time is never considered lost that
brings home the stuff that nearly every
one is glad to get rid of. When my
gardens are supplying weeds these are
never thrown away. They are made
of the best material that the air can
furnish, and materially aid the compost
pile. l have arranged one of my COM
post heaps in a swale below the house,
80 that l can conduct the house sewer
into it, and make it cess-not cess
pool, for it is never foul, and rarely
wet. By using fork once or twice a
week, it is kept neat looking, while the
whole mass is becoming permeated
with heterogeneous deposits. This is
something like five rods from the
house, and constitutes the best method
of disposing of house waste that have
yet seen devised.
The piles 60 on building all summer,
but are never forked or turned over.
In the side of each few squash hills
may be made, and the vines will make
the heaps slightly if not ornamental.
But in October each pile is carefully
forked and mixed. You will find that
your leaves have become we'll rotted,
and ready to make first-rate humus.
The ashes are blended with the ma
nure, and will not only tighten the soil,
but also increase the power of the ma
nure to receive nitrogen. When thor
oughly blended the compost is applied
to gardens as needed. Strawberry beds
are covered freely, not to quite hide
the plants, with the result of not only
enriching the beds, but mulching them
for the winter. The same compost is
used for top-dressing grass; while that
which is richest in muck and leaf mold
is used in raspberry gardens.
The compost piles are the salvation
of my place, the source Of wealth, and
the pledge of success. To visitors 1
point them out, saying, 81 run my
place with those" The most barren
knobs are now rich gardens, and grow
ing richer, in spite Of the heavy crops
which are annually taken from them.
e. p. Powell Of New York. in New