VEGETABLE HUMUS 227 



unturned for at least a month, when the outside portions 

 can be skimmed off and the inner material broken up with 

 a fork and used as manure, with or without the addition of 

 basic slag. 



When and How to Use it : So far as my experiments 

 go I have come to the conclusion that the best time to use 

 vegetable humus or manure is in the winter. It can be 

 dug in during the autumn, but if left till the spring it must 

 be in a very well rotted state. During the winter, however, 

 it can be applied to vacant land in a fresher state ; it is 

 more beneficial then, since the final stages of decomposition 

 take place in the ground. 



I have used vegetable manure in trenching, deep digging, 

 and shallow digging, and have gained good results in every 

 case. The rougher forms are more suitable for trenching 

 work ; and the finer forms, made from grass mowings and 

 small weeds, for surface and ordinary digging. In a very 

 rotted state it can be forked into existing borders around 

 the roots of plants, and can even be used for mulching. In 

 my garden the soil is inclined to be heavy, but I know 

 several gardeners who use it extensively on light soils 

 with splendid results. It tends to break up and improve 

 a clayey soil, and to strengthen and bind together a 

 sandy soil. In the winter digging it can be used fresher 

 in light soils than it is safe to do in heavy soils ; lawn 

 mowings which have rotted for only about four weeks can 

 be used on sandy soils. In soil which is devoid of humus, 

 this necessary ingredient can be supplied first with vegetable 

 manure and finished off with dung. 



One point, however, must not be overlooked. Rotted 

 vegetable manure must not be buried in the soil in big 

 lumps. Sometimes it is awkward stuff to manage, more 

 so than animal manure ; it should be broken up with a 

 fork to do the good it can do. People with weak constitu- 

 tions should rely on animal manure ; it is less smelly to 

 use, and need not be above the soil so long, and those 

 who use it are advised to have a solid meal before working 

 with it. 



