Composts 95 



think of adding plant -food. This plant-food may be 

 supplied in some concentrated fertilizer; it is also added 

 when green -crops are plowed under or when manure 

 or compost of garden refuse is applied. It will now 

 be seen that the best results are usually to be expected 

 when there is something like a rotation in the ferti- 

 lizing of the land, stable manures being used alter- 

 nately with concentrated or commercial fertilizers. 



Fig. 25. Gardener's compost piles. Manure on the left, sods on the right. 



Composts. In the addition of plant-fiber to the 

 soil, much will be gained if it is thoroughly decom- 

 posed. It thereby becomes quickly incorporated with 

 the soil, and its plant -food soon becomes available. 

 This is the explanation of the general desire of market- 

 gardeners to have what they call "short" or well-rotted 

 manure, and also the very common practice of com- 

 posting manures and refuse. Composting consists in 

 piling the various materials together in long, low, flat- 

 topped piles, which may catch and retain the rainfall, 



