CHAPTER XII. 

 STABLE MANURE AND FERTILIZER. 



HE first material used by mankind to promote 

 plant growth, no doubt, was ordinary stable 

 manure. Although we have found in commer- 

 cial fertilizers valuable substitutes, we have 

 today nothing better with which to promote 

 plant growth than a well-rotted, properly pre- 

 pared compost. I say properly prepared com- 

 post, as I consider the preparation and care 

 given a compost heap of such importance, that I am apt 

 to have my judgment of a grower biased as to his ability, should 

 he fail to properly care for and prepare his compost heap. The 

 waste of stable manure is so common, taking place in such a 

 silent, hidden manner, that it is liable to escape notice entirely. 

 One can almost judge of the size of a trucker's bank account by 

 the size and condition of his manure heap, and a well kept com- 

 post heap may be taken as the surest indication of thrift and 

 success in one's farm operations. 



It is of vital importance to the farmer to know the value of 

 all materials in his reach which can be converted into compost. 

 Experiments carried on by our scientific people show that the 

 excrement of a working horse, if carefully saved, will amount in 

 weight to about six tons a year, of which, it must be remembered, 

 the liquids are the most valuable part; ample bedding should, 

 therefore, be supplied at all times to absorb the liquid. 



To carefully absorb and convert into plant food the greatest 

 amount of the ingredients available, depends altogether on how 

 well and how carefully the manure has been composted; to do 

 this I have found it advisable to carefully fork over the entire 

 mass every three or four days, after removal from the stable. 

 If this forking-over process is repeated four or five times being 



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