USE OF COMPOST URGED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 42, 20 February 1943, Page 4

USE OF COMPOST URGED

FERTILITY ACTIVATION VIEWS OF MR. R. L. THORNTON The need for a knowledge of the use of compost as a fertility activator In the soil was stressed by Mr. R. L. Thornton, Auckland, in an address at the Wanganui City Council Chambers on Thursday night. The Mayor, the Hon. W. J. Rogers, M.L.C., presided over an attendance of more than 80. Mr. Thornton said the time was ripe for an intensive growing of home foodstuffs on the compost method of manuring, as by this means people would get the soil healthy. From healthy soil, said Mr. Thornton, would come healthy food, and from healthy food would develop a healthy people. He said the whole future of New Zealand rested upon a correct treatment on the top nine inches of soil. The only method known to keep the soil really healthy was by comnost manuring. The speaker described the various methods of composting the waste materials from the house and garden, and showed by a working model one of the latest methods, known as the Pettv method, which is claimed to be quicker than most of the old methods, and has the advantage of allowing the air under the heap, tho? eliminating the need of turning. Mr. Thornton went on to describe the practical utilisation of compost in the vegetable garden, showing how more healthy seedlings could be raised. thus laying the foundation of still better crons. Ho emphasised making a study of the root systems of the vegetables so that the compost could be worked into the soil in the positions where the feeder roots would be best able to use it. Giving an illustration. Mr. Thornton mentioned that such vegetables as celery and tomatoes had their feeder roots near the surface and hence most of the compost should be kept there, but in the case of taproot vegetables such as carrots, the feeder roots were at the base, and in consequence the comnost should be placed at a depth of from four to six inches at least.

The ease with which a compost garden could be worked compared with one where compost was not used was also illustrated. Counled with this, the vigour and health of the plants grown in the compost garden kent the grower keen and enthusiastic.

Concluding, Mr. Thornton said the choice before the people of New Zealand was whether thev would decide to adopt this simple natural method of rejuvenating the soil and thereby the foodstuffs, from which a healthy people would evolve, or whether they would be content, to go on with the present haphazard way with attendant disease affecting plants and people. Mr. Thornton was given a vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation.