MANURES AND MANURING 2$ 



results. With other crops top growth is stimulated 

 at the expense of the root or fruit development. It 

 is generally conceded that for most garden crops, 

 especially when grown in an intensive way, well- 

 rotted manures are absolutely necessary. The chief 

 objection to the use of well-rotted manures is that 

 unless the decomposition has taken place under 

 proper conditions heavy losses of the plant food 

 have occurred both by leaching and by heating. 

 Proper decomposition of the manure supply, in 

 order to place it in the condition most desirable 

 for garden purposes, requires careful attention to 

 details and a thorough understanding of the proc- 

 esses going on within these materials. 



The compost pile is, or should be, a common ad- 

 junct of every garden. While the word "compost" 

 carries with it the idea of various kinds of materials 

 incorporated therein, the usual compost piles con- 

 sist largely, if not entirely, of stable manures. How- 

 ever, when the value of organic materials in the 

 maintenance of soil fertility becomes better under- 

 stood, nothing of this kind will be wasted, but every- 

 thing will be worked into the compost pile, and find 

 its way back to the land in the best form and as 

 quickly as possible. The principal things to be 

 avoided in making a compost pile is leaching and 

 overheating. If a shed is available for this pur- 

 pose, leaching may be entirely avoided and splendid 

 results secured. This is not usually available,, 

 neither is it absolutely necessary. Good results 

 may be secured by the following plan : The lieap 

 should be; started as long and wide as thought neces- 

 sary to take care of the available materials, are built 

 up with as nearly square sides as possible to a height 

 of four or five feet. As the materials are added 



