The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-09-26

A MANURE SHED CONNECTED WITH BARN
By CARRIER AND TRACK.
truckers and gardeners. These farm
ers may multiply their available ma
nure many fold by means of the COM
post heap.
It should be remembered that any
thing of vegetable or animal origin has
value as a fertilizer If put in proper
condition. The compost heap is one
means of doing this. One ton Of leaves
contains fifteen pounds Of nitrogen, 80
pounds Of phosphoric acid and, SIX
pounds of potash, and at ordinary val
ues for these substances is worth near
ly $346. Straw similarly is worth
about So per ton. These values are
based on their total percentages of
fertilizing constituents. In actual prac-
tice 1t is safe to assume that half Of
the materials have undergone decom-
position.
Locate the compost heap in an old
shed or build shed with any kind of
cheap material for roof. Spread on
the ground a layer of stable manure
8 by TO feet six inches deep. Over this
spread 100 pounds of acid phosphate
or ground phosphate rock. The phos-
phate rock is less expensive than the
acid phosphate, but is not so effective.
Continue these alternate layers until
the manure is used up or until the pile
has become inconveniently high. To
these layers might be added straw,
leaves, mold or other litter, adding 100
pounds Of ground phosphate rock to
each ton Of material used. Be sure to
wet all thoroughly. When the compost
heap is completed cover 1t about four
inches deep with good loan or with
forest mold.
When applying two tons per acre or
less the best results can be obtained
by putting the compost In the furrow
and bedding out on It, Be careful not
to bury too deep, especially on clay
soils. When using more than two tons
per acre it Is better to scatter broad
cast.
1t is safe to say that by using COM
post supplemented with cowpeas, vel
vet beans or other legumes the produc-
ttveness of the average 100 acre farm
can be materially increased and simply
at the cost of a few tons of acid phos-
phate and little labor.
Green Manures.
1t has been found beneficial to plow
under green crops on depleted soils or
soils deficient in humus. Crops suita-
Bile for this purpose are cowpeas, vel
vet beans, clover, buckwheat, rye and
lespedeza. Ordinarily the crops should
be allowed to reach maturity before
turning under. 1t is not good practice
to turn under heavy green crop i'm
mediately before planting another
crop, especially small grain.
A cover crop is usually sown late In
the season, after the main crop is out
of the way. Oats. rye and crimson
clover are most commonly used for
this purpose. They are sown in the
cotton or corn at the time of the last
working and make some growth dur
ing the autumn and early spring.
They serve the double purpose Of add
ing humus and of preventing soil ero-
sion. The cover crop should be plowed
under at least two weeks before the
time for planting the next crop Green
manure crops are helpful in improving
the mechanical condition and rendering
available the plant food already in the
soil, and If leguminous crop like the
cowpea is used as green manure the
soil also gains In nitrogen as a result |
of the power Of such plants to fix the !
nitrogen Of the air. With barnyard |
and with the cowpea at his |