Manures for Vegetable-Gardening in Warm Countries 27 



any escaping ammonia and holds it in an available form. 

 Land plaster may be added to each layer of the compost to 

 take up any gas as it is formed. The time required for 

 decomposition depends largely on the amount of manure 

 used and the completeness of the mixing with the coarse 

 stuff. Caution should be exercised to keep the pile moist, 

 but not wet ; if it is so wet that liquid can be pressed out of 

 it by squeezing it in the hand, water must be withheld for 

 several days; when no more water can be pressed out, 

 water may again be applied ; if it is too dry much of the 

 nitrogen may be lost. This is made apparent by the rising 

 of steam or the sending off of ammonia gas, and is easily 

 detected by the nostril. If the overheating is due to the 

 lack of water, it may be corrected by supplying the needed 

 moisture, but sometimes it is necessary to fork the pile over 

 to lower the temperature. After a little practice, one is 

 able to prepare a heap so that it will not have to be dis- 

 turbed untU it is to be applied to the field. 



If one has determined for what crop the compost is 

 to be used, the proper amount of commercial fertilizer 

 may be added as the pile is prepared; otherwise this 

 must be added when the compost is to be used. There 

 are two advantages in the use of compost: first, it im- 

 proves the mechanical condition of the soil ; and secondly, 

 the soluble chemical fertilizer is taken up by the vegetable 

 matter and held in suspension much as a sponge holds 

 water, thus keeping the rains from leaching it out of the 

 soil, and as it is in a more finely divided state, the growing 

 plants can absorb it with greater facility. When preparing 

 compost, it must be under shelter to keep the water from 

 washing out the soluble fertilizer. 



