Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 182, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1911 — THE SUMMER COMPOST HEAP [ARTICLE]

THE SUMMER COMPOST HEAP

Complete Directions for Preparing and Handling Stable Manure for Use on Grass Lands.

If the stock is stabled at night the droppings should be cleaned out every morning and then mixed with earth. Sprinkle each foot layer of fresh manure with plaster, then cover with six Inches of good loam. Make a compact heap. Weeds and rubbish of every kind should be added to the heap. Keep the heap moist. The drainage should be spread over the pile. By this method a~rich, wellrotted, fine compost may be had to spread over the meadows at very little cost As soon as the hay is off is the most favorable time to top dress grass land. A fine compost containing six loads of yard manure mixed with ten loads of good, rich woods earth, or soil from the head lands, with 100 pounds of plaster and six bushels of wood ashes spread over the earth as it is piled, will make a rich compost for either clover or timothy. This quantity will be sufficient to cover one acre. By keeping the fresh manure plastered and covered with earth, there will be no breeding place for flies. Flies are a great annoyance to the stock. They alscy:arry the germs of disease into the farm home, which is a very serious matter, especially where there are children or invalids exposed to their attacks.