HUMUS 



107 



ashes, and of very little value. In order to prevent this the 

 heap must be tramped when first it is made, and every little 

 while it must be turned over and moistened. The heat that 

 then develops does no harm, the manure rots the quicker, 

 and the heap packs down into the " well-rotted manure" 

 which is the desire of every gardener. To make it is not 

 easy. The owner must not let the rain get at the manure, 



FIG. 59. WASTE IN MANURE. 

 Rain washes out most of the nitrogen. Keep the manure under cover. 



for rain will wash out the chemicals. He must himself not 

 wet it too much, for the same reason. He must remember 

 to turn it whenever it begins to heat. But in the end it is 

 ready to go back to the land, returning tfiere what it took 

 away. 



The various manures have different values. Hog, sheep, 

 and hen manure are rich in nitrogen, but have not much 

 humus. For that reason horse and cow manure are better. 

 Perhaps the best general manure to use is a mixture of 

 these two. The bedding should have been straw, and 



