VEGETABLE GROWING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 21 



A heap or pit can be made 1 very economically, and is of special value in 

 that it utilises all sorts of vegetable and animal refuse, which would 

 otherwise be wasted, and converts it into a valuable manure, rich in 

 vegetable matter and eminently suited for intensive cultural conditions. 



The principle upon which the compost heap acts is the fermentation of 

 easily decomposed vegetable material in the presence of earth and lime. Not 

 only are substances like peat and straw, which form the usual basis of 

 compost heaps, thus decomposable, but almost every kind of organic 

 substance, both of vegetable arid animal origin, can be composted. Dead 

 leaves, bush scrapings, vveeds, tops and stalks of vegetables, as well as bone 

 and animal refuse, can be treated in this manner. In the case of animal 

 refuse the operation is much slower, and substances like bones should be 

 crushed first. It is also important to be sure that animal refuse so treated 

 is not derived from a diseased source. 



The method of making and maintaining the compost heap will vary largely 

 with local surroundings. As a general method of procedure the following 

 will be found satisfactory: Make a heap with alternate layers of earth, 

 refuse, and lime. Under the term refuse is included all the waste material, 

 either animal or vegetable, mentioned above. Cover the whole with a 

 layer of earth. When a sufficient quantity of refuse is again collected, place 

 it on top of the heap and cover with a layer of lime, and lastly of earth, 

 until the heap is 3 to 4 feet high. The heap should be kept moist, and for 

 this purp'ose all refuse water from the house, slops, urine, &c., should be 

 added. The heap may be conveniently watered by making a hole into the 

 interior and pouring the liquid in. The final covering with earth has the 

 object of absorbing any ammonia which is evolved in the process of 

 fermentation and by the action of the lime. 



When the heap has been prepared it must be left for some time to allow 

 fermentation to take place. Probably a few months will be sufficient, unless 

 very refractory substances, such as bone, &c., are present. Then it should 

 be well forked over and another layer of lime and finally one of earth should 

 be added. In the course of another month or two it should! be ready for 

 Use, and will provide an excellent manure, rich in humus, at a very slight 

 cost. It will have utilised for the purpose a great amount of material 

 that would otherwise be lost or burnt. When refuse material is burnt, the 

 .ashes, though still possessing manurial value on account of the lime, potash, 

 .and phosphates they contain, are of incomparably less value than the original 

 substances ou.t of which they are derived, owing to the absence of humus 

 material and of nitrogen, which have been lost in the process of burning. 



Instead of a heap the compost may be conveniently prepared in a pit. In 

 -either case the bottom should be cemented, or so drained that the liquid 

 escaping from the mass can be collected and returned to the compost. 



