The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-10
Benefits of COMPOSING Manures.

Paper read before the meeting Of the
South Texas Truck and Fruit Growers
association, held at Beeville. October %
and 20 1902, by William Benton OF Bee
Vile Texas:
Gentlemen: This is a question that
should receive the attention of every truck
grower, II being one Of the most important
subjects connected with truck farming.
What food is to the physical system; what
light Is to the material universe; what in
tellectual culture is to the mind Of mau'
fertilization Is to the soil. Ono Of the
most economical methods OF fertilization
Is composing the waste and refuse on
firm aud garden, and In order to sh"W
the benefits of composing manures It viii
be necessary to allude TO the method OF
preparing compost
The first requisite Is shed large enough
TO shelter and keep dry the materials for
compost The compost should lie OF
about equal parts Of vegetable matter, such
as straw, vegetable refuse, pea vines, etc,
and animal excrcmcnt. These materials
should be gathered and placed under the
shed as they accumulate. Care should he
exercised that the heap does NOT hrcfang,
condition caused by the munures heating,
When strong odor comes from the heap
fermentation Is too active and the hemp
should he forked over and wet down as
often as necessary TO keep the heat from
rising above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The amount Of animal eNcrcment to- be
composted at one time should not be less
than twenty to thirty wagon loads In or
der to obtain best results. as much more
can be used as occasion requires
Having accumulated a sufficient amount
of materials, we are now ready to make
Make nm excavation in the ground about
2CXS0 feet and ten inches deep. firm the
bottom as solid as possible: now take tho
heap from the shed and begin by placing
same In the excavation; first put four or
FIVE loads, then tramp down well and
sprinkle over about one-half bushel OF fresh
lime: continue IN this way until the heap
is completed. When the compost heap is
completed 1t should be wet down well,
after which cover the entire heap with
sand or sandy loan TO a depth OF four
10 six inches; after this wet down sufh-
GENTLY often to prevent hrefunging; let
remain in this condition from four to six
weeks, or until all vegetable matter is de-
composed, then begin at one end Of the
compost heap and fork 1t over thoroughly,
mixing the entire mass; after this wet
down the entire heap. The compost Is now
ready for use and should be applied broad
cast at the rate OF eighteen to thirty loads
now call your attention to a special
compost for seed-bed purposes. Commence
by making an excavation In the ground
under n dry she'd about 4xl0 feet and ten
inches deep, firm bottom we'll Into this
excavation put first layer Of sod four TO
six Inches deep, on this sprinkle small
quantity Of lime, then on this put a layer
Of COW manure four TO six inches deep, and
again sprinkle with lime, and continue ~
this way until the heap is OF desired
height, then wet down about once n week
for two monthsi then begin at one end
and fork over. thoroughly mixing; then
wet down and let remain for three or four
weeks. when II viii he ready for use
Composing manures enables the farmer
and trucker to utilize the waste and re-
ftse Of the farm and garden and 10 return
"a the soil the necessary elements for plant
food; besides composts help 10 retain ammo
ria and moisture and renders the soil more
pliable.
We can not refrain from condemnlnf, the
time -honored custom Of hauling stable ma
nure upon the land and dumping IN small
heaps. whercii fungoid diseases are capa-
Bile or alternating for months without
losing their vitality. whom, N the manurca
seeds of noHious weeds would he DESTROYED
hy the process ~ chemical transformation