Production of Artificial Manure


portant not to extend the heap completely, to the edge of the
floor, for this will result in the waste of a lot of the valuable
water that will run off over the sides of the heap.
 Poured concrete of a 1-21/4-3 mix (by measure) of cement,
sand and coarse aggregate is best for the floor. When this
is mixed with approximately 5 gallons of water for each bag
of cement a water-tight concrete results. The cost may be re-
duced somewhat by using a foundation mixture of 1-23/4-4 for
the bottom 6 inches of the floor and topping this with 4 inches
of the water-tight mixture. The sides may be made of wood,
stone, brick, concrete blocks or poured concrete.
 In nearly all cases of active decomposition the compost will
begin to heat after about 3 days. The compost should not be
disturbed at this stage. However, the temperature should be
watched and the compost should not be allowed to dry out.
Water should be applied to check the rate of decomposition if
the temperature goes above about 1400 F. If the compost be-
comes dry at this stage of rapid decomposition, it is said to be
"fire-fanged" and the value as manure is materially reduced.

 SOME COMPOSTING EXPERIMENTS
 Water Hyacinth.-Water hyacinth was taken from a lake on
the China Tung Oil Corporation farm near LaCrosse, Florida,2
and composted after the free water had drained from the plants.
Three compost heaps were made, each containing approximately
10 tons of the green plants. One compost was made without
minerals and 2 were made with 150 pounds of a chemical re-
agent. The composition of the reagents used was as follows:
 Reagent Used in Compost No. 1
 Urea ........... ............ ...... ........- .... 42 pounds
 Rock phosphate ............................... ... 75 pounds
 Lim estone ...-...-................. ................ 23 pounds
 Muriate of potash ............................... 10 pounds
 Total .- .................. ......... ........ 150 pounds
 Reagent Used in Compost No. 2
 Cyanamid ...........--.......- ........... .... 75 pounds
 Rock phosphate ............. ........................ 65 pounds
 Muriate of potash ................................ 10 pounds
 Total ........................ .................. 150 pounds
 The assistance and cooperation of Mr. Harry W. Bennett, owner of
the farm, is gratefully acknowledged. Also credit is due Mr. J. C. Cain
for his assistance in the preparation and analysis of these composts.