72 THE farmers' handbook. 



(a) . — Farmyard Manure. 



Except in some dairies or such farms on which the animals are stall-fed 

 the material known as farmyard manure is nothing more than the solid 

 excrements of animals, and does not contain either the urine or the vegetable 

 matter used as bedding which is the characteristic of farmyard manure 

 made and used in Europe and colder countries. 



Owing to the absence of vegetable matter such manure has very little 

 value in the formation of humus, and it is probably most economically used 

 in the compost heap. 



(b). — The Compost Heap. 



The compost heap is a most valuable adjunct to the farm, and it is a very 

 great pity that it is not more frequently to be found. 



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

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

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

 matter, and eminently suited for soils low in humus or subject to droughty 

 conditions. 



The principle of the compost heap is the fermentation of easily-decom- 

 posed vegetable matter in the presence of earth and lime. It is not only sub- 

 stances like peat and straw, which form the usual basis of compost heaps, 

 that are thus decomposable, but almost every kind of organic substance, both 

 of vegetable and animal origin, can be thus composted. Dead leaves, bush 

 scrapings, sawdust, weeds, 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 first 

 crushed. It is also important to be sure that animal refuse so treated is not 

 derived from a diseased source. 



The best way of making and maintaining the compost heap will depend 

 largely upon local surroundings. 



As a general method of procedure the following will be found satisfac- 

 tory : — Make a heap with alternate layers of earth, refuse, and lime. Under 

 the term refuse is included all the refuse material of animal or vegetable 

 material 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 h,eap 

 and cover with a layer of lime, and lastly of earth, until the heap is 3 or 4- 

 feet high. The heap should be kept moist, and for this purpose 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 outer covering of 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 to itself to ferment for 

 some time. Probably a few months will be sufficient unless very refractory 

 substances, such as bone, &c, are present. In a few months' time it should 

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

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

 and you will have provided yourself at a very slight cost with an excellent 

 manure, rich in humus, and will have utilised for the purpose a great amount 

 of refuse material which would otherwise have been lost or burnt. When 

 refuse material is burnt, the ashes, though still possessing manurial value 

 on account of the lime and potash and phosphates they contain, are of 



