THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
85 
The only consideration then, if “we have 
thus far trod on solid ground,” which can ren- 
der the system of composting highly advanta- 
geous to the farmer, will be the circumstance of 
his having on hand such animal or vegetable 
matters as canndt properly, or to a sutlicient 
amount, be decomposed in his barnyard. Such 
exigency will not be unfrequent. The farmer 
may have the mislbrture, by accident or disease, 
to loose a horse, a cow, or a score of sheep. — 
These are all appropriate subjects of the com- 
post bed, and should never be suffered to decom- 
pose in the open air, so long as earth of any 
kind can be obtained to cover them, and to ab- 
sorb the nitrogen which will escape during the 
process of putrefaction. Again, peat earth, 
swamp-muck, and similar substances, in which 
there exists a large amount of coarse woolly 
fibre, may be the most conveniently, and most 
effectually reduced to a proper condition for the 
use of plants, in compost beds— especially in 
case a large amount of these matters is requir- 
ed in the operations of the farm. 
How, then, the question now arises, .shall wm 
most readily, and at the least expense, effect the 
decomposition of these matter-s? or, in other 
words, how shall Ave convert their insoluble 
into soluble genie — the direct food of plants, 
“Every azotized constituent of animal or ve- 
getable organism enters spontaneously into pu- 
trefaction, when exposed to moisture and a high 
temperature. Accordingly, azotized matters, 
(i. e. matters containing nitrogen in any of its 
forms,) “are the only cau-ses of fermentation and 
putrefaction in vegetable substances. — (Liebig, 
p. 230.) “It is a well established fact that the 
pivduction of nitre is not necessarily dependent 
on the presence of animal matter, but that, un- 
der the influence of porous materials, aided by 
alkalies or lime, the elements of air combine 
and lorm nitre and nitrates.” — (Dana, p. 135.) 
From all Avliich it appears necessary for the de- 
composition of Amgetable fibre, viz: 1. A suffi- 
cient degree of moisture; 2. A proper elevation 
of temperature; and 3. The presence of some 
substance containing nitrogen — Avhich may be 
either pure animal matter, animal manure, 
lime, (the principal alkaline earth,) ammonia, 
potash or soda, (the most important alkalies,) 
saltpetre, (nitre of potash,) ashes, (consisting of 
potash, soda and lime, common salt,) chloride 
of sodium. 
The efficiency of these substances as decom- 
posers, will probably be found to correspond 
somewhat wuth the order in which they stand; 
but in making from them a selection for his 
particular purpose, the farmer must of course 
be guided by circumstances. Whether his in- 
terests will be subserved at all by making com- 
post, will depend upon his facilities for accumu- 
lating undecomposed vegetable matter. Wheth- 
er it will quit cost to employ his stable manures 
in composts, will depend upon the extent to 
which he can sec.ure them (solid and liquid,) in 
his cattle yard, or in his soil; and upon the 
cheapness with vA'hich he can procure other de- 
composers; and whether he shall make use of 
lime, or any one of the alkalies, or alkaline 
compounds, in preference to another, he aviU de- 
cide with reference to the comparative expense 
of these articles, and the idea he has of their 
comparative value. 
If animal manure be decided upon as the de- 
composer, it should be employed in as green a 
state as possible, its decomposing power de- 
pending entirely on its nitrogen, w'hich even an 
incipient fermentation will diminish. The pro- 
portion in which the manure is to enter into the 
compost should be determined by the species of 
the manure— it being recollected tfiat urine, 
night-soil, hog dung, sheep dung, horse dung 
and coAv dung, contain different amounts of the 
decomposing principle (nitrogen,) correspond- 
ing Avith the order in which they are here ar- 
ranged. The common practice has been to al- 
low one load of manure for two or three of ve- 
getrble matter; but it has been shoAvn thai this 
mu.'t depend on the quality of the manure. 
It is equally evident that the proportion of ve- 
getable matter should be regulated by the ease 
or difficulty with which it is likely to be decom- 
posed, or, in other Avords, by the amount of la- 
bor it will require the manure to perform. If 
the A'egetable matter to be decomposed be peat 
earth, or swamp muck, it should have a previ- 
ous opportunity of parting with its tannin, acids, 
and excessive moisture, by exposure, for some 
length ol time to the atmosphere. 
The ingiedients being in the requisite state, 
and the proportions of their admixture deter- 
mined on, the pile may be constructed as fol- 
loAvs: First, lay the foundation (ol the form, size 
and depth desired,) wuth vegetable matter — co- 
A^er this to the proper thick^ness Avfith the ma- 
nure, and thus proceed Avith alternate layers of 
A'egetable matter and manure, till the pile has 
acquired a sufficient height, Avhen it should be 
finished (in a somewhat conical form,) Avith a 
thick layer of earth, to prevent the escape of 
such volatile products as will be formed during 
the subsequent fermentation. If it be Avished 
to hasten the process, lime, ashes or salt may be 
added for this purpose; and, in an}' case, a small 
addition of plaster will be useful, from its ten- 
dency to preserve the salts of the pile. 
At the end of six or eight Aveeks the Avhole 
mass should be shoveled over, broken doAvn and 
carefully blended together, and in case fermen- 
tation is still proceeding, a quantity of the finer 
earthy materials may be added. As soon as the 
w'ork of decomposition is done, it .should be re- 
moA'ed immediately to the place of its destina- 
tion. 
‘AVeeds, leaves of trees, and all the succulent 
plants Avhich grow so abundantly in ditches and 
Avaste lands, under hedges, and by road-sides, if 
cut or pulled Avhen in floAver, and slightly fer- 
mented, furnish from 20 to 25 times more ma- 
nure than straAV does. These phints carefully 
collected, furnish to the agriculturist an im- 
mense resourse for enriching his lands. The 
turf that borders fields and highways, may be 
made to answer the same purpose, by cutting it 
up with all the roots and the earth adhering to 
them, rotting the Avhole in a heap, and after- 
Avards carrying the mass upon the fields.”— 
Chaptal, p. 63. 
To form a compost with lime, our late Agri- 
cultural Commissioner, (Rev. H. Colman,) di- 
rects to “raise a platform of earth on the head- 
land of a field, eight feet Avide, one foot high, 
and of any length according to the quantity 
Avanted. On the first stratum of earth lay a thin 
stratum of lime fresh from the kiln; dissolve or 
slack this with salt brine from the nose of a 
watering pot; add immediately another la}'er of 
earth; then lime and brine as before, carrying it 
to any couA'enient height. In a week it should 
be turned over, carefully broken and mixed, so 
that the mass may be thorough!}' incorporated. 
This AA'as applied in the hill to corn. The crop 
Avas equal to that obtained b}' barn manure on 
parts of the field immediatety contiguous.” — 
Fourth Report, p. 347. 
In forming a compost of peat and lime, Dr. 
Dana recommends to slack a cask of lime Avith 
so much brine as w'ill just be saturated AA-ith a 
bushel of salt, and after 19 days blend it thor- 
oughly Avith three cords of peat, shoA'el it over 
occasionally for six AV'eeks, and apply it directly 
to the soil. — p. 197. 
Of the use of clear brine in forming composi, 
there seems to be, among our most intelligent 
fanners, a considerable sh}'ness. The result of 
Mr. Colman’s observation on this subject was, 
that “in its application to peat composts, it as- 
sists in their decomposition, but its tendency is 
to expel their ammonia, to drive off the enrich- 
ing parts ef the manure, and to reduce much of 
the remainder to an insoluble state. Here, hov'- 
ever, its pernicious effects may be counteract- 
ed,” (in paral) “Avhere there is a sufficient co- 
vering of mould to absorb the gases, Avhich 
Avould otherwise be dissipated in the air. Un- 
der such circumstances, its use may sometimes 
be advised.” — Fo^irth Report, p. 349. 
Mr. Timothy Benedict, ol Pittsfield, in the 
fall of 1841, prepared a compost heap of swamp 
muck and lime, by mixing one bushel of the 
latter AA'ith a common load of the former, taken 
fresh from the bed. The last spring he applied 
this to a portion of his cornfield, a .shovel full to 
the hill, treating the remainder of the field in 
similar way AA'ith common stable manure. — 
When examined by the Agricultural Commit- 
tee in September, it appeared that the compost 
bed had been equally efficacious as the manure. 
The crop was a luxuriant one, and received the 
second premium of the Society. 
The writer’s experiments Avith muck and 
lime, hoAvever, both on graA'elly and clayey 
soils, have proved entirely unsatisfactory; while 
from the use of the same quantity of muck in 
combination Avith ashes, he has derived the most 
signal benefit. 
Ashes and muck, in the proportion of 4 or 5 
bushels of the fonner to a common load ol the 
latter, form a A'ery valuable compost. If the 
muck be in a fine poAvdered state, the materials 
may be thoroughly blended together, and appli- 
ed at once to the soil. But if the muck be of a 
strong texture, and contain much A'egetable fibre, 
some time 'A'ill be necessary for its decomposi- 
tion. Leached ashes Avill an.swer the putyose 
equally as Avell as lime, if a someAA'hat larger 
proportion be employed. 
To this compost too high a valuation can 
hardly be attached. A series of experiments 
(amounting to 29 in number,) instituted the past 
season, by the editor of the NeAv England Far- 
mer, has resulted in shoAvingit to be second in 
the scale of composts, only to one “composted 
of both the dung and urine of cattle, horses, 
hogs and human beings, mixed with straw' and 
muck,” in a barn cellar. — See the Farmer, a'oI. 
21, p.l57. 
Finally, it may be remarked in relation to 
compost heaps, that the more heterogeneous 
their materials, the more rapid and perfect will 
be their decomposition; since, the greater the 
number of affinities brought into play, the great- 
er Avill be the struggle betw'een the particles of 
the mass to indulge their “likings and antipa- 
thies” in making election of their future (though 
it may be ver}' temporary) associates. Let not 
the manufacturer of composts, then, be afraid 
of laying under contribution too many of the 
sources of animal, vegetable and mineral sub- 
stances capable of being made to fatten his 
plants and to “gladden the soil.” 
Occasion Avill be taken, in concluding, sim- 
ply to express the sentiment, that would the pre- 
sent race of cultivators of the soil but “come to 
the light” w'hich science is shedding upon their 
profession, and in accordance Avith its teachings, 
put in full requisition the resources of fertility 
AA'hich eA'ery w'here abound around them, an- 
other generation Avould inherit from their hands 
a land of garden spots, and “shout the merry 
harvest home,” on fields w'here now is only 
heard the sad, monotonous complaint of “hard, 
hard times.” 
Ashes on Corn. — 1 haA'e been in the habit of 
using ashes and plaster on corn, and believe 
that ashes are w'orth the most, I thought last 
spring that I wmuld ascertain the fact. I there- 
fore left six row's through the middle of my field 
No. 1 AA'ithout plaster or ashes; six roAA's do. No. 
2 w'ith plaster in the hill on the corn; do. six 
rows No. 3 Avith ashes in the hill; six do. No. 4 
AA’ith ashes and plaster in the hill; six do. No. 5 
ashes and plaster in the hill, and on the com af- 
ter the first hoeing: the quantity used w'as about 
a table-spoonful to each hill. The rows Avere 
long enough to contain a quarter of an acre, each 
6 row's. The result was— 
No. 1 had 22 bushels ears. 
2 24 
3 26 
4 26 “ 
5 31 
The field marked out three feet each way, and 
the cultivator used each w'ay, and hoed tw'ice. 
Thus you see No. 1 AA'ould yield at the rate of 
44 bushels per acre. No. 5 62 bushels per acre, 
w'hich I should think about an average Avith the 
