36 



The materials to be used, are nearly all the refuse of the 

 farm, stable, cattle-pen, kitchen, and house; the only things to be 

 avoided, are wood ashes and lime; these must not be put in 

 a heap, because they evolve ammonia from any combination in 

 which it is, but if they are desired on the land, can be sprinkled 

 after ploughing and previous to harrowing, the lime, especially, 

 doing most good when kept near the surface. Weeds also after 

 seeding, should be excluded; as they will give endless trouble 

 when they sprout. 



Straw, corn-stalks, cotton-stalks, muck, clearings of fence 

 corners, leaves, all are useful; but in the South, the cheapest, 

 most abundant, and most valuable ingredient is cotton seed; 

 here we have an inexhaustible supply of that most costly ingredi- 

 ent, ammonia, and also a considerable amount of potash and 

 phosphoric acid ; and it is to this compost that we now direct 

 your attention. 



If cotton seed were wetted, piled, and left, in a short time it 

 would "heat," and putrefaction setting in, nearly all the nitro- 

 gen would escape as ammonia, while the other inorganic 

 matters in small quantity, would be left ready for the next 

 crop. The object, therefore, to be attained, is to reta.n the 

 ammonia in an available state, and to increase the amounts of 

 the other valuable elements. The one in least quantity is 

 phosphoric acid, so that the object resolves itself, into retaining 

 the ammonia of the seed and adding soluble phosphoric acid. 

 This is done by composting the cotton seed with the soluble 

 phosphoric acid of the manufacturer; and it is evident that the 

 greater the percentage of soluble phosphoric acid in the pur- 

 chased article, the greater the percentage of ammonia and 

 soluble phosphoric acid in the compost. The ordinary way of 

 retaining ammonia escaping from a compost heap, is to sprinkle 

 with plaster, or put a la} r er of earth. In the former case a 

 mutual decomposition ensues, and sulphate of ammonia and 

 carbonate of lime are formed ; while in the latter case, the gas 

 is absorbed by the earth, with probably the same and also other 

 chemical reactions. 



In the retention, by means of the dissolved bone or acid 

 phosphates of commerce, both phosphoric acid plaster being 

 present, the ammonia can be retained both as phosphate and 

 sulphate, so that there is very little danger of any of it escaping 

 into the atmosphere and being lost. 



For the construction and management of a compost heap, 

 the following mode of procedure is recommended : 



In selecting the location, a slight incline should be chosen ; 

 and from any point as a centre, lay off on each side four feet ; 

 now dig a small ditch on the centre line, say twelve inches deep, 

 and twelve inches wide, as long as may be necessary, and sink a 

 barrel or keg at its mouth to catch the drainings ; slope down 

 the space from each outside line of the four feet radius to the 



