Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-01-14
The Compost Heap.

BY the compost heap the far
mer is able to multiply his avail
able manure MANIFOLD. We
should remember that anything
of vegetable or animal origin is a
valv able fertilizer if put in prop
er condition. The compost heap
is the means of doing this. One
ton of leaves contains Is pounds
of nitrogen, 6 pounds of phos-
phoric acid. and 6 pounds of pot
ash, and at ordinary values for
these substances is worth nearly
So. A ton Of straw similarly is
worth 1925, and sawdust 1920.
These values, of course, are bas-
ed on their total composition. In
actual practice it is safe to as
sumo that half of their values
are available, But it is only af-
ter undergoing fermentation in
the compost heap that these val
ues are available.
That it will pay the farmer to
give more attention to the COM
post heap has been repeatedly
proved by practical trials. At
the North Louisiana Experiment
Station, Calhoun, La, the fol-
lowing results were obtained:
The land normally would pro-
duce one-fourth of a bale of cot
ton and z to 10 bushels of corn
to the acre. By the annual ap-
plication of 80 bushels per acre
of a compost composed of stable
manure, cotton seed, acid phos-
pathe. and loan this yield has
been increased to from IL to
~ bales of cotton ana so to so
bushels of corn. The annual
expenses of applying this COM
post amounted to a little over
81 per acre.
How the Compost Heap is Made.
Locate the compost heap in al
old shed or build a shed with any
kind of old material for a roof.
If the shed leaks some, all the
better. Spread on the ground
in a layer 10 inches thick 10
bushels Of stable manure, wet
ting thoroughly. Over this scat
ter 100 pounds of acid phosphate
or 100 pounds of high-grade
phosphate rock. Then follow
with another layer of manure
and phosphate etc. Continue
these alternate layers until all
the manure is used up or until
the pile has become inconven-
iently high; then cover the pile,
both top and sides, with 4 inches
of forest mold or good loan ia
ken from the fence corners. If
stable manure or mold is not
available, use straw, leaves, or
any waste material, even weeds.
Be sure and wet all thoroughly.
After the heap has stood from
four to six weeks it should be
worked over and we'll mixed.
This is best done by beginning at
one end and cutting it down YER
tically, throwing the manure in
a pile behind. Wet again and
cover again with loan. It will
be ready for use in three or four
weeks.
The above proportions are for
use with cotton. When the
compost is desired for corn he
quantity of phosphate can be re-
duced-use only SO pounds in
stead of 100 to each layer. Thir-
ty bushels. or one tWo-horse
wagonload, per acre Of this com
post will produce very marked
results.
When this quantity is used. it
is best applied in the drill just
prior to planting. If preferred,
the rows can be marked off and
the compost distributed in this
furrow and then bedded on. Be
careful, however, not to bury it
too deep, especially on clay soils.
It is safe to estimate that this
quantity of such a compost will
more than double the CROP on
poor land the first year. Thus
the composted land can be ro-
tated. and in the course of a
very few years all the land will
be permanently improved.
Bearing in mind the supple
mental value of the cowpea. it is
safe to say that at least so per
cent be added to the productive
ness Of the average 100 acre