Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-10-19
SOUTH PARIS, MAINE, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10. 1915
Leaves for Bedding Make tiumus.

/ Leaves IOr oeoQtuS Wdkc nuiuuo
In The Homestead July Is l note
with interest the article from your
Maine correspondent relative to the ma
nurial value Of leaves. From my owr
experience / can also testify to theil
fertilizing qualities, as for several years
it has been my practice to gather libera
quantities from the woodlot with al
much regularity as have obtained my
winters stock of firewood from the
| same source.
The chief use have made of them
has been as bedding for my pigs and
| calves that are quartered on my horse
manure. By daily distributing fresh
supply about the pens the leaves and
manure are thoroughly mixed together
under the sharp hoofs of the animals by
their constant tramping, thereby pre-
venting any material loss, either from
teaching or fermentation and producing
homemade fertilizer hard to beat for
the production of bumper crops. The
more of the leaves that are decsyed, OF
partially so when gathered, the better.
Such is my program for the winter and
spring.
For the late summer and fall, ferns,
weeds (cut before seeds mature) and
other green trash found commonly
growing in the waste places of our pas
lures, are provided and used in similar
manner. For my stable cutters, how
ever, have found dried muck prefer
able to leaves as an absorbent, not only
on account of its greater moisture hold
ing capacity, but also from the we'll
known fact that the fermenting manure
left loosely in heaps needs the acid of
the muck to arrest the loss of its am
monia. As stable absorbent | have
also made considerable use of partly
rotted turf, and with highly satisfactory
results. am convinced that very little
ammonia escapes with its use. 1t ap-
pears to make the best substitute for
muck where that material cannot be
readily obtained.
HUMUs As A SOIL BUILDER
Too much emphasis cannot be laid on
the necessity of farmers constantly max
ing large additions of organic matter to
their soils for the maintenance OF perma-
uent soil fertility, not only on account OF
lis direct fertilizing value in providing
The most costly element, nitrogen, but
because by it alone can the supply OF
humus be maintained. II gives life to
the soil through its own decomposition.
by setting free acids that unlock from
their compounds essential plant food
elements like potassium, with which
most normal soils are abundantly sup
piled.
Farm manure is, and always has been,
the main source of organic matter in all
kinds of live stock farming. 1t is fact,
however, known positively by good au-
though not generally by farm
ers themselves, that two thirds of the or
ganic matter consumed by animals in
live stock farming is destroyed in the
process of digestion, and OF the part re-
naming much is commonly lost through
Consequently, the inadequacy of the
manure supply derived directly from
farm animals alone as source Of organ
c matter is plainly evident-even when
reinforced by the large purchase Of high.
priced concentrated feeds. Additional
ways and means must be found for
keeping up the supply of humus-the
most valuable and necessary of all the
of our soils. These ways
and means, as rule, may be found and
utilized as illustrated in the foregoing
This can be done by every
farmer right on his own
New England Homestead.