MANURES 35 



to assist fermentation, as this cannot take place satis- 

 factorily in dry manure, and the lack of water may result in 

 serious loss. The number of times a manure pile should be 

 turned over will depend on the crop to which it is to be appli- 

 ed and the kind and condition of the manure. This is a 

 matter which must be left to the good judgment of the 

 individual manager, but some of the factors bearing on this 

 will be discussed further on. 



The compost heap can be made a prolific source of 

 homemade manure. Every farm and garden should have 

 one of sufficiently large proportion to take care of all refuse 

 organic material about the place. It should be made about 

 as follows : Select a place handy to get at but where there is 

 no standing water, and put down first a bed one foot deep 

 of old sods or muck, and on this pile all the refuse material 

 as it collects in various places. This material may consist 

 of old straw, leaves, and occasional load of heating manure, 

 rotten vegetables, etc. This should be turned over oc- 

 casionally, by hand if necessary; but the best plan is to 

 have the compost heap in a hog yard and to it haul manure 

 as it collects near the stables. If manure is piled upon a 

 good bed of rotten sod it will not lose much by leaching, 

 nor will it lose anything by heating if a sufficient number 

 of hogs have the run of it to keep it well worked up, taking 

 the place of hand turning. 



Green Manures. Where plenty of land is available, 

 the gardener may often use .some green crop, as rye, cow- 

 peas, wheat, or some of the clovers, as a cover or a green- 

 manuring crop, plowing it under when weather and soil 

 conditions are best. Such crops not only utilize and save 

 for future use plant food that continues to be elaborated 

 in the soil and which might suffer loss from leaching or 

 otherwise, but also is an excellent means of increasing 



