OF WHAT VALUE IS IT? 25 



In the preparation of muck for manure, as 

 well as in consideration of preserving farm 

 manures, the question of composting natur- 

 ally presents itself. When muck is exposed 

 to the action of the air, as in a compost pile 

 or when mixed with ordinary cultivated soil, 

 its nitrogen slowly undergoes change and is 

 gradually rendered available to the growing 

 plant. Through the action of bacteria 

 proper to soils, the nitrogen constituents in 

 the muck are changed to ammonia. The 

 most favorable conditions for this bacterial 

 action are moisture, air, warmth and the ab- 

 sence of acidity. The correction of acidity 

 may take place by the addition of lime or 

 wood ashes. 



While the ability to procure commercial 

 fertilizers readily has caused composts to fall 

 somewhat into disrepute and while in cer- 

 tain localities near cities, it may be more 

 profitable to expend labor in hauling stable 

 manure than in building muck compost 

 heaps it is true of a state of small* farmers, 

 for whose labor there is at times no profit- 

 able outgo, that the making of composts of 

 muck, with stable manure or cultivated soil, 

 is surely destined to become one of the most 

 important items in farm management. 



