You can make acceptable, manure-like, organic fertilizer (artificial manure) by composting. Alternate layers of organic materials such as leaves and kitchen table refuse, with manure, topsoil, lime, organic fertilizer, water, and air so that the mixture decomposes, combines, and yields artificial manure.

HOW TO MAKE COMPOST PILE

Make the compost pile of convenient size, usually not less than 10 feet square (100 square feet) and 3-5 feet high. Leave the top flat or with a slight depression in the center to catch rainwater or added water. Too much water reduces aeration and slows the decomposition process.

One way suggested in building the pile is to make a layer of leaves, straw, grass clippings, and other organic materials 1 foot deep, wet down, and pack. Spread a few shovelfuls of garden soil over each layer to make sure decay organisms are present. Then add up to 5 pounds of ground rock phosphate or 1 quart of raw bone meal per 100 square feet and 1 pound of ground limestone. Repeat the process until the pile has reached 3-5 feet high.

Compost will begin to heat after 2-3 days. Keep it moist but not too wet, and do not disturb for awhile. After 3 or 4 weeks, fork it over, mixing the parts uniformly.

Compost for the garden should be ready in 6 months to a year, depending on the time of year, type of materials added, and your skill as a composter. When the compost is broken down into a uniform mixture and no undecomposed leaves or other material may be seen, it is ready for use.

ORGANIC MATERIALS FOR COMPOSTING

Almost anything organic may be used, but the most popular are natural materials, such as small grain or pine straw, leaves, grass clippings, shrub clippings, vegetable refuse, garbage, fish scraps, etc. Garbage and food scraps are less desirable because they cause rat and odor problems. A list of materials and what each might contribute to the compost is given in the table that follows. In addition, certain of the materials listed as organic fertilizers (for example, tobacco stems) could be added.

USING COMPOST IN THE GARDEN

Since compost is artificial manure, use it as you would manure. Broadcast it over the entire garden 3 weeks or more before planting. Or if you have only a small quantity of compost, it may be mixed into the soil along each planting furrow or at each hill site. In all cases, apply it at the rate of about 25 pounds per 100 square feet or 1/4 pound per square foot.

COMPOSITION OF COMPOST MATERIALS

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COMPOST MATERIAL %N %P205 %K20

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Banana Skins (ash).................. ---- 3.25 41.76

Cantaloupe Rinds (ash).............. ____ 9.77 12.21

Caster Bean Pomace................. 5.00 2.00 1.00

Cattail Reeds...................... 2.00 .81 3.43

Coffee Grounds..................... 2.08 .32 .28

Corncob Ash........................ ____ ____ 50.00

Corn Stalks & Leaves............... .30 .13 .33

Crabgrass, green................... .66 .19 .71

Eggs, rotten....................... 2.25 .40 .15

Feathers........................... 15.30 ____ ____

Fish Scrap........................ 2.0-7.5 1.5-6.0 ----

Grapefruit Skins (ash)............. ____ 3.58 30.60

Oak Leaves......................... .80 .35 .15

Orange Culls....................... .20 .13 .21

Pine Needles....................... .46 .12 .03

Ragweed............................ .76 .26 ____

Tea Grounds........................ 4.15 .62 .40

Wood Ashes......................... ____ 1.00 4.0-10.0

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Ash is dry-weight basic