The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-15
responder
Z IN THE SOUTH


stems ~Tried-sheep Manure Compost Form
ula-Careful Compost. Mixing-Diligent
Use of Northumberland Against Thieves.
C~,rrespondence OF The Progressive Farmer.
The time will come, and I believe
il is almost at hand, when the South
will begin to paying for the
compost mixing of high grade fertili-
zers at the manufacturers and mer-
chants barns when the money paid
ont for such shall be saved TO the
farmer by his doing his own com
posting and thus adding far more to
his profits by saving and using the
fertilizing elements his land and
stock produces at his hand. 1t only
needs scientific composing with
some fundamental ("high grade'O
elements TO make the whole ''pile of
manure quite as valuable practically
As that bought from the merchant at
a high price.
This must not be construed as a
selfish strike at the merchant, for it
is fortunate for all of us that the
merchants enterprise led the way
and showed the farmer the better
wav 80 higher agricultural industry,
and be should be credited with it
and paid for what he has done. But
while we accord this 30 him, I also
urge the farmer to master his own
business, a very important part of
which is to save, compost and use all
the fertilizing elements he is now
producing and learn how so produce
more, especially through the agency
of sheep manure, the mode of hand
ling and superior quality of which 1
am trying to point out.
Since writing my last chapter, and
being in correspondence, with Prof.
B. ". Kilgore, State Chemist, Raj
eigh, \. c., I have received some ex-
ceIlent hints relating to analysis of
elements, values, ETC., but for want
of material from me for analysis, he
could not furnish me with much re-
liable data, except that from fresh
sheep manure and Bermuda grass,
used in a future chapter) both of
which do not remember TO have
seen heretofore. He says: "Aver-
age fresh sheep manure contains
about the following constituents
Ammonia, 4 per cent. potash, 3
per cent. phosphoric acid, 2 per
cent"
Of course this refers 80 average"
green manure from sheep kept on
common food in the common way
and evidently without the sheep
urine in it. 1 wish it noted that 1
am writing about a flock of 800 ewes
receiving what would generally now
be considered extra good feed and
keeping. I have another analysis
which if 1 am not mistaken was
given on sheep manure with the
urine, viz Phosphorio acid, 1 6 per
cent. ammonia, 3 % per cent. pot
ash, II per cent. 1 know these
sheep were under high keep and feed,
but my practical experience with
such sheep manure, warranted me in
placing about that valuation on it
that thereafter give, handled mainly
as I am suggesting in these articles,
though modified some at the sugges-
ton of Prof. Kilgore.
am carefully trying not TO over
estimate benefits or profits so as to
mislead any one. I am writing so
carefully that 1 feel confident of be-
ing able to substantially sustain by
analytical discussion any proposition
set forward in these chapters. l
have very largely written from per.
solaI experience and observation
rather than from books and what
Others have told me having a fair
school and teachers knowledge Of
oh anistry and a lengthily gathered
p-.ctiosl knowledge on what may be
termed d small scale, though not the
.a-, scientific, of agricultural chem
i-- their action and results on ap-
l- atlon, especially in composing
-l quantities, applying the same
a. uoting results.
noe in Missouri 1 bought q guam
q # tJbacco that had been dried
Oh he stalks, at one and a half cents
.lI and used the leaves for sheep
d The stems were in the way, so
/ them-about five hundred
p.- cut up fine and mixed with
4 If excellent horse manure in
q 80 -, %Ao zkol1n ohOut = 600