THE COMPOST HEAP

Evening Star, Issue 20985, 26 December 1931, Page 13

THE COMPOST HEAP

In a convenient corner of the garden a compost heap should be made and constantly maintained as it forms a valuable source of manorial material for the enrichment of ground that is being dug and prepared for planting at all seasons or the year. In this heap vegetable refuse of all kind should be placed to become rotted down for manure, and be returned to the soil at some future time. The heap may be made on a hard bottom in some convenient place adjoining the garden, where it can lie and decay for an indefinite period without interfering with the cultivation of the ground. Failing a suitable site outside or a position screened off by a hedge or wall, and kept for the purpose, a good method is to remove to the sides several inches of the surface soil from a piece of ground some four feet square, and into this small area place all course refuse from exhausted crops, leaves (including tree loaves), soot, and other materials of manorial value, which may be added to the heap gradually during autumn and winter. If the heap is kept straight up at the sides and flat on the top, it may be readily added to above from time to time, without encroaching on more ground than is necessary. At intervals after a thick layer of vegetable refuse has accumulated it should be tramped or beaten well down and covered with a thick layer of soil. Ihe compost forms an excellent manure for late crops that are sown or planted during the growing season. VEGETABLE MARROW BEDS.

An alternative method, and one that gives good results, is to retain the compost h.eap for a year, so that the materials "may become thoroughly decomposed ; and if this plan is followed, vegetable marrows may be grown on the heap during the summer; these succeed well wheu grown on a quantity of decayed vegetable material of this sort. The longer an aceumlation of this kind can be allowed to lie and decompose the more concentrated it becomes, and the more readily available are the plant foods which it contains. With this in view, whore two separate heaps can be conveniently accommodate and formed in successive years, each being allowed to lie for two years and be turned over at least once in the interval, preferably in autumn or early winter, the material will be greatly improved. ■ Any marrows still on the plants that have become sufficiently matured should be cut and taken indoors, to their being frosted or becoming hard. They may be hung up in a dry, airy place, and will keep in a good condition for a considerable time, to come into use wheu other vegetables are becoming scarce.