Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-12-10
PREPARING COMPOST

The deficiency OF vegetable matter in
our soil has now come to be serious
problem. and how to remedy this con-
dition is one OF the gravest questions
requiring solution at this time. In
country maintaining large numbers OF
live stock this question can be readily
solved but I'm the cottOn-grOwing
states live stock industries do not
predominant. hence other methods OF
supplying the needed vegetable matter
must be devised. In the first place, IL
should be clearly recognized that every
particle OF yard manure which can be
made should be saved and utilized, and
the amount now available may be
ouadrupled il all the loose litter about
the farm and which may be gathered
from the neighb0ring woods as wen
were saved and properly composted-
Probably the most remarkable thing
about the farmer Of Europe is the Won
derfuI care and skill he exercises in
the preparatiOn and application OF
every particle OF manure TO his soil
which will in any way be userul as
fertilizer or add vegetable matter
thereto. The American farmer Is just
now beginning to realize that he must
follow. the example of the European
farmer in this respect
II farmyard manure cannot be had,
must the HAEEAAAAA6 Va ~N--FN-N
abandoned2 Not by any means, for
there are low, swampy places in many
vicinities where the soil is very rich
and NAV be used, as the basis or a
compost. There are places in the
woods on practically every farm where
leaves and other trash have accumu-
lated for several years and the soil
contains a large amount OF vegetable
matter. These materials viii furnish
N tim nf
ideal compost since they are almost as
rich in fertilizing constituents as farm
ward manure which contains a large
amount OF straw and other loose litter
The realization OF this fact viii enable
every farmer 20 prepare large COM
post heap for use next spring II ne
sets to work Immediately, and II ne
can add at least two tons or TINS
material to the drill row before plant
ing his corn or cotton he will certainly
obtain a decided benefit therefrOm-
There are two ways of preparing
COMPOST One is to use more or less
coarse materials and break them down
BY proper treatment so that the COM
most may be run, through drill An
other method is TO gather as mucn
litter and trash as possible from every
source. apply directly TO the soil ana
turn il under in the fall There are
advantages to both methods and the
farmer must decide which he PREFERS
70 use or course, where considerable
quantities OF farmyard manure ana
other rough materials are used In pre-
paring compost and a manure spreaoer
Is available. no trouble will be expert
enced in distributing the mass over
the field. Many manure spreaders are
nov made with tunnels so the compost
may be distributed in two rows This
Is a decided advantage and Is type
Of spreader which can be used 10 good
advantage on all the larger plantations
throughout the south where only
limited quantity OF yard manure OF
compost is available Yard manure oI
vich earth of itself will not make a
satisfactory compost In the nrst
place. II will not be well balanced. IN
TIE second place. il will be deficient IN
tha essential mineral elements required
nv o,,r southern soils. The average
gomnoSftion of yard manure of fair
quality. fer instance. is about per
cent OF nitrogen. - per cent OF pnos-
phoric acid and per cent OF potash
a coed compost may be prepared as
follows. Take 200 pounds OF yard ma
- ,-agatabIe matter from the woods
or rich dirt. and mix with it at least 80
pounds OF high-grsde acid phosphate ana
10S rounds Of kainit This will make LOU
nounds in all. and the resulting compost
would contain about s per cent Of nitro
zen. Is per cent OF phosphoric acid and
Il De cent OF potash. A compost OF TINS
Sysnd il used at the rate Of two tons per
acre would supply about 3 pounds Of nj
trogen. IS pounds Of phosphOric acid and
q pounds OF potash. This is more nitro
gen. half as much DhosphoTic acid ana
more than twice as much pOtach as would
be supplied by a ton Of So fertilizer. and
would make liberal application for many
OF our farm crops. II found deficient in
nitrogen, which might often be the case,
cotton seed or cotton seed meal may be
added 20 the mixture, or nitrate Of soda
used as top dressing Since IL may Oft
en- not be advisable to use 1900 pounds
per acre. and in case a larger percentage
OF potash If desired, 81 TO 100 pounds Of
muriate may be substituted for the kali
nit This will Increase the amount Of pot
ash very considerably and viii be found
the wisest policy to pursue on sandy