Year: 1873

and rendered soluble, fufnlSn I00Q Tor


plants. The virgin soil of the most


fertile land is the product Of these ma


terials, decomposed in natures labora-


tory, and her agents are heat, air and


moisture. Experience and observa-


ton have demonstrated these facts,


and science details the reasons.


With knowledge and experience, a


better fertilizer than much that is sold,


can be prepared at home at compara-


lively little cost, and in many cases


for less than is paid for freight on the


commercial article.


Some care and system is necessary, Of


course, to gather and treasure up for


use every Waste material tnat VIA i.i-


crease the size and improve the quality


of the manure heap. The cost in


labor and time, as well as the value or


efficiency of the manure, will depend


mach upon the mode of treatment.


Labor may be saved, and the feiment-


ing and Incorporating process may be


expedited by preparing a place con-


venient to the raw material and to


water, by excavating shallow basin,
say seven to ten feet wide, and using
length required to make the pile six
or seven feet high. Asrade this basin
from the sides, say three inches below
the surface to about ten inches in the
center; excavate an oval drain through
th eent.sr, say siy inches daesFYapd
eighteen lnchef \, with grade of
about one in hlc&h or twenty. The
bottom of this basin should be temper
ed bard, and may be covered with clay
or cement to render them durable.
Place rails or timbers across the basin,
and cover with boards that will sup
port the weight and prevent the com
post from sitting through, and still
admit the requisite oxygen, which will
be absorbed from the air circulating
under it. The first layer over the
boards should be few inches thick of
straw or any dry litter, followed by
stable manure, or whatever material
may be at hand in regular layers, and
over each layer of from six to ten
inches should be spread layer of a
few inches ot muck, or rich earth, to
absorb tine riu. z IS of aaIHIol!a, |
lirogen, et., ~ Clty are geHer tel. |
Ihe top Of the heap SHOULD nave a
thin layer Of straw, to prote from
the effect OF sun and rain, and to
admit air.


If corn stalks, or any coarse fibrous
is to be fermented and decom-
posed, spread these lengthwise, and in
thin layers near the center of the
heap. Water should be added sufi-
cient to thoroughly moisten every por-
tion, without draining through; and if
this water could be rendered putrid by
being prepared in a shallow cistern
constructed for the purpose alongside
The pile) by adding ohal, urine, excre-
nent, etc., and quart OF fresh lime,
,r one pound Of copperas to every bar
-el of the liquid, this would hasten the
and improve the product.
,Putrid water acts like yeast.) In the
course of from one to three weeks-as
ioon as the material has rotted so that
t can be cut down easily with a spade,
,egin at one end and turn over the
material, and then repack it, making
he top oval and little narrower than
he bottom. The material should
gain have as much water as it will
Ibsorb, and if the quantity of compost
5 small in proportion to the acres or
rops requiring its aid, and these may
'e added literally and mixed well
Nth the compost at the time it is re-
lied. The whole outside of the heap I
hould be covered with a thin layer of s
arth or muck, or what is better, if {
thin layer of land plas- t
er, to absorb and retain the gases S
hat might otherwise escape. le