162 One Thousand Questions in Agriculture 



may have to remove surplus or interfering branches for the sake 

 of shaping the tree. Winter pruning induces a greater wood grow^th 

 during the following summer; therefore, it should be avoided under 

 such conditions as you describe. Having adopted such a policy, there 

 is nothing for you to do but to wait for the trees to slow down and 

 assume a normal bearing habit proper for their ages. Summer 

 pruning is an offset for excessive wood growth. 



Suburban Wastes. 



We keep a cow and poultry and have a dry-earth toilet. We have 

 been burying the manure in the little garden spot or along by the fences 

 or spreading it out on the alfalfa before it is rotted, but do not get good 

 results. How shall zve apply it to get the best results? We have a town 

 ordinance against leaving it in piles to rot. 



You can compost it in a tight bin made of planks, and using 

 enough water to prevent too rapid fermentation and loss of valuable 

 ingredients. During the dry season you can probably use enough 

 dry earth or road dust to render the material inoffensive, and you 

 can also distribute it then without itndesirable results. 



Composting Garden Wastes. 



You recoiiintcnd making a compost of all scrapings, garbage, zveeds, 

 etc. Is there any danger in having this in a pit near the house f 



If you desire to put garden wastes, including manure, into a 

 pit, the only objection would be the heavy work of digging it out 

 again. If you allow waste water from the house to run into the pit, 

 there would probably be not enough dry material to absorb it, and 

 the pit would be not only objectionable on account of odors, but 

 possibly dangerous to health. The water would also prevent de- 

 composition, because of exclusion of air. At the same time, enough 

 moisture to promote slow decomposition is essential. It is usually 

 more convenient to compost garden wastes on the surface of the 

 ground, enclosing them with a plank retainer, because moisture can 

 easily be applied with a hose, as desirable, the material can be oc- 

 casionally forked over to promote decay, and the heavy work of 

 digging material out of a pit is avoided. Such a collection is neither 

 offensive nor dangerous if handled right. 



Composting Manure. 



Will the dry barnyard manure, when heaped up and dampened with 

 water, make a valuable fertiliser? 



For garden use, dry manure in heaps should be dampened with 

 water from time to time so as to prevent too active fermentation. 

 Of course, water should not be supplied so freely as to cause a 

 leaching of the pile. It is also desirable that the material should be 

 forked over from time to time to distribute moisture and promote 

 decay. When this is done a thoroughly first-class fertilizer is pro- 

 duced. 



