The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-02-16

creased to from / IA to / 1-2 bales
OF cotton and 80 to so bushels of
corn. The annual expense of ap-
plying this comDos amounted to a
little over 81 per acre.
How the Compost Heap is Made
Locate the compost heap in an old
shed or build a she'd with any kind of
old material for q roof. If the shed
leaks, all the better. Spread on the
ground in a layer 10 inches thick 10
bushels of stable manure wetting
thoroughly. over his scatter 100
pounds acid phosphate or 100 pounds
OF nigh grade ground phosphate rock.
Then follow with another layer of ma
nure and phosphate. etc. Continue
these alternate layers until all the
anu isu sed up or until the pile
has become inconvenientIy high: then
cover the pile, both top and sides,
with 4 inches of forest mold or good
loan taken from the fence orners
Ii stable manure or mold is not avail
able, use straw, leaves. or any waste
material, eve weeds. Be sure m
wet all thoroughly. After the heap
has stood from four to six weeks it
should be worked V and Wei mix
ed. This is best done by beginning
at one end n cutting it down verti-
cally, throwing the manure in a pile
behind. Wet again and cover again
with loam. 1t viii be ready for use
IN three or Iour weeks.
The above proportions are for use
with cotton. When the compost is
desired for corn the quantity of phos-
phate a be reduced-use only so
pounds instead Of loo to each layer.
Thirty bushels. Or one two horse
wagon load. Ger acre of this compost
will produce Very marked results.
When this quantity is used, it is best
applied in the drill ust prior to plant
lng. If preferred, the rows can be
marked Off and the compost distri-
buted in this furrow and then bedded
on. be careful. however. not to bury
1T tood deep, especially on clay soils. I,
is safe to estimate that this quantity
OF such q compost will more thar
double the crop on poor lands the frs,
year. Thus the comDOSted land car
be rotated. and in the course OF {
very few years all the Land will b,
permanently improved.
Bearing in mind the supplements
value OF the cOWpea, it is safe to sa,
that at least so per cent. can be ID
ed to the DrOductiNeness of the aver
age 100 acre farm. and that simpI,
at the cost OF a few tOnS of aci(
phosphate and 2 little labor. Will
the compoSt and with the cowpea a
ms service to save and gather nitro
Il SNii illiii, IL average FARMER !
simply throwing his money ava,
when he buys that substance in com
/ mercial fertilizers for he could pro
duce all his Ian needs upon his farm
| Economy should be his
| and there is no better place for hin,
5 to start than by stopping the waste o
: nitrogen that IS SO fragrant through
; out the Wiho.e South. The soil is tn
! farmers bank, and the fertilize
= stored therein bv nature is his capita
He can no more expect to draw in
definitely upon this supply withou
I ultimately ~exhausting it than h
could expect his check to be honore,
{ without making fresh deposits.
Q The people 20 the South have bee
doing this for years. and their credi
in natures bank is getting low
Every ton of hay sold from the farr
the n from which is not return
ed to the oil takes off IS worth Q
fertilizer, cotton seed about $11. cor
V $6.75., This has been going on ii
the farm RESPONDS reluctantly to man
!. of our drafts.
We trust that we have made tn
value of farm sufficient
evident and that more farmers wi
= give attention to their saving.