176 KNAPP METHOD OF GROWING COTTON 



so that the accumulation may go on without 

 injury to its quality until a convenient time to 

 remove and spread it on the land. 



One can readily see that a large quantity 

 of valuable fertilizer could be accumulated 

 during the year with a limited number of 

 animals when taken into consideration that 

 each grown horse produces about 12,000 pounds 

 and each cow about 20,000 pounds per year. 

 When the straw and other litter is added to this 

 the amount is largely increased. The actual 

 plant food contained in one ton of barnyard 

 manure is worth at least $2.50, and it is safe to 

 say that the farmer will derive nearly $4 worth 

 of good from it. It not only furnishes $2.50 

 worth of plant food but greatly improves the 

 mechanical condition of the soil and multiplies 

 beneficial bacteria. 



Some farmers prefer composting their ma- 

 nures, but this, except in rare instances, is an 

 additional expense without adding very much 

 to the actual value of the manure. For special 

 farming the compost heap has been found bene- 

 ficial and may be made somewhat as follows: 



Locate the compost heap in an old shed; or 

 build a shed, with any kind of cheap material 



