290 LEGUMES AND FERTILIZERS 



Barnyard Manure for Gardens. — One of the best ways of sup- 

 plying both plant food and humus to garden and orchard soils is to 

 apply barnyard manure. Manure is usually most abundant in 

 the winter and spring seasons. These are also convenient and 

 otherwise suitable times for adding manure to soils. 



A good method is to spread the manure abundantly and 

 evenly on the surface and then plow or disk it under. If plowed 

 under it will be less in the way of cultivators or other tillage 

 implements. 



Manure is sometimes used as mulch on the surface of garden 

 soils. This mulch may be applied during the growing season, 

 between rows, after early cultivating. It is put on top of the 

 asparagus and rhubarb roots after the tops are dead in the fall. 

 It is put around bushes and shrubs as a winter covering. 



In home gardens where manure is produced on the place there 

 are two good plans to follow in the management of the manure. 

 Fresh manure may be applied to some part of the garden as fast 

 as it is produced. This is probably the best method of saving all 

 the plant food in the manure. It is readily taken up by the soil 

 and is then used by the growing plants. 



Composting Manure. — Another good plan of saving manure 

 for the garden is by means of a compost heap. It rots the litter 

 and makes it finer. It kills weed seeds and many disease germs. 

 It prevents danger when heavy applications are made to the 

 garden. It prevents loss by leaching. If properly made the 

 compost heap will not become too hot. 



Making the Compost. — A good place to make a compost heap 

 is at the edge or near one end of the garden, where it will be handy 

 for use. On the ground spread a layer of barnyard manure about 

 eight to twelve inches thick. Then put over this a layer of thick 

 grass sods. Repeat these alternate layers until the compost is 

 four to eight feet high. Keep the top somewhat level to catch the 

 rainfall. If no rains occur at first the compost should be watered 

 well. If there is not enough manure ready to make a large compost 

 heap at one time the area and height may be easily increased 

 afterward. 



Potato vines, corn stalks, tomato vines, cabbage stems, weeds 

 and many other garden wastes may be added to the compost heap 

 from time to time. They will make good manure. 



Composted soil will be valuable in hotbeds, coldframes, seed 

 .beds, and for any spot where very rich soil is wanted. 



