The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-03-12
There may

This compost contains then the 6o6al
quantities of phosphoric acid, pot
ash and nitrogen put in minus "naV
nitrogen has been lost by changes IN
the nile and plus whatever OF nitro
oen has been gained by n~itrifcatlon.
This in a well-kept compost heap
NAV largely exceed any losses from
the other action, for the reason tha6
tho we71-keDt. moist and carefully
tended pile would have been held IN
der gaining rather than losing con-
ditions. and may be expected to be
worth as much or more, as all the
materials put into the compost. Ii
would not be hard for W. E. L. to
estimate the aggregate value II he
has kept any account at all accurate
" as to what has been used with the
bodies in the compost pile. He car
estimate the weight Of the animals
and count on>their content Ct the
following per centages:
Bodies of cattle based on live
weight: Lime 2.O8 %, nitrogen 1855
%, potash OH %, ~phosphoric acid
1856 %.
In absence of more accurate figures
use the same factors for the horse
flesh put into the compost.
In handling this if it is dry and
fine it may be mixed we'll with the
soil with which it was covered and
the bones which will break down
readily should be we'll mixed through
out the pile. IF moist or pasty,
ditch bank dirt may be added until
it can be handled without sticking.
Bones which will not crumble down
may be returned to a compost in the
same place which shall consist Of
bones and wood ashes. This should
be on a watertight bed and be moist
ened so the lye of the ashes may
have a chance to reduce the bones.
When this is accomplished this COM
post nay be dried with ditch bank
dirt and used just as it goes out.
The compost of bodies, cane stalks
and ditch bank soil is a complete
manure of low grade. If the bones
are nearly all included it is better
than if there are many Of them left
over for a second trial. If w. E. T.
desires to raise the grade and mix
chemicals with this compost, he cal
do so, but if he thinks the work will
be increased by sc doing, we would
advise that he apply the compost and
chemicals separately. If, however,
he can put in chemicals at little or
no extra expense when handling over
the pile, being sure they are init
mately mixed, that will be a good
time to put them in and the one ap-
plication to the soil will take no
time because of the chemicals, which
will be we'll distributed with the
compost.
We would, if desiring to make a
high grade manure out of this COM
post as a base and chemicals to be
added, mix with every 1900 pounds
of compost 1900 pounds of acid phos-
phate and three hundred pounds of
muriate of potash or potassium chic
ride. These chemicals may be pur-
chased in Richmond, Norfolk, or
Baltimore, but should be found
cheaper freights considered at Will
mington, N. @.
It would increase the value and
push the crops to larger growth to
reduce acid phosphate from 1900 to
1000 pounds and use 200 pounds of
cotton seed meal. The compost thus
becomes an aid and vehicle for the
dilutiOn and mixing of the chemicals.
This may be used in drills at the rate
of 400 to 800 or 1000 pounds per acre,
or it may be broadcast in about the
same amounts. The amount to use
would depend on what fertility is
considered to be in the land before
this application is made and enough
of this added to produce the yield of
crop desired. Then this should be
supported by a system of cultivation
which will keep the soil moisture
from too great loss in dry weather
since the crop often depends more on
the water supply than on the ma
nures applied and the proper Guilt
walton is the water c~onserver.
T. E. E.
Fiction readers will turn, first, in
the March Century, to the opening