POULTRY MANURE IN THE GARDEN

Evening Star, Issue 21724, 19 May 1934, Page 25

POULTRY MANURE IN THE GARDEN

There is a large proportion of readers who keep poultry or pigeons, and, although neither are typical friends of the gardener, they supply what is by no means a bad fertiliser. The manure from these corresponds very closely to guano, and is therefore a valuable and invigorating fertiliser; but it needs more judgment in use than is generally accorded (says the ‘ Auckland Star ’). Much, of course, depends upon v> fiat they consume, just the same as : t does with other animals. The ordinary grain and vegetable matter docs not produce so good a manure from fowls as with a good run for insects and worms, helped by bonomcal and meat refuse. Peas arc supposed to afford the most valuable dung from pigeons, but the droppings from these arc not so vurir able or large as from the fowls. I only wish to give a hint as to the better and safer use of clearings fiom the fowl run and pigeon loft than they frequently receive. Like guano, fowl manure is very quickly dissolved in water, and provides equally rapid plantv food; therefore, it should be kept dry until ready for use. The ammonia arising from damp fowl manure is its most valuable part. Note what a difference there is in the smell of perfectly dry fowl droppings and when they are damp. This is from the ammonia escaping into the air and greatly robbing the manure of its value in the garden. You will now see how much better it is to use it, either in a liquid state, and so secure the greater part of its plant food being in the ground at once, or covering it with some soil. A great deal of this loss can be prevented by sprinkling some soil and ashes in the fowl run from time to time,. This not only prevents Joss, but is far more healthy to both birds and owners.

Lime is about tho worst thing you could use so far .as the manure is concerned, because it hastens tho escape of tho. valuable gases. If you have only pigeons, add some wood ashes to their droppings and store until wanted. In using these manures, failure is often duo to ignorance of their strength, li treated as sugestecl, you have one of the most valuable manures. It supplies a soluble plant food readily available. Small doses frequently arc better than a. largo close, in fact, only enough should be given each time that the plant can readily use. Powdered up when dry, a little can be sprinkled on the surfa'ce of the soil of pot plants. It is a good manure for carrots, parsnips, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, rhubarb; and a light top-dressing occasionally during growth makes a wonderful difference to these crops.