e-book:
|
|
|
Ministry of Agriculture Allotment &
Garden Guide
|
|
Click image for
facsimile of page 7 March 1945
Page:
1 /
2 / 3
/ 4
5 /
6 / 7 /
8
|
|
|
FOOD FOR YOUR GARDEN
FROM YOUR GARDEN
The importance of compost was dealt with in the January "Guide". Now
it is proposed to tell you what you can use to make it and how to make
it––in pictures. |
| |
|
WHAT YOU CAN
USE
Leaves, grass cuttings, straw sods, lawn mowings, haulms of peas, beans and
potatoes, vegetable tops, hedge clippings, weeds, and faded flowers. In
fact, any plant refuse not needed for stock feeding. |
|
WHAT YOU CAN'T USE
Cinders, paper, coal ashes, thick woody stems, sawdust, and any materials
tainted with oil, creosote, tar or with any poisonous chemical. Avoid
cabbage roots affected by 'club-root' disease. |
|
|
Make a COMPOST HEAP this way |
| |
|
1. Choose site, in shade if
possible, on ground not used for cropping. Width 4-7 ft. Length depends on
amount of material available. |
|
2.
Cover with layer of vegetable refuse (the more mixed and broken up the
better) to 6-9 in. depth. If dry, moisten and read down well. If green and
sappy, lay loosely.
|
| |
|
3. (Left) Cover with 2 in. layer
of animal manure (horse, cow, pig, poultry, pigeon, rabbit) or sewage
sludge.*
(Right) If animal manure is not available, sprinkle with one of the special
proprietary chemicals or with sulphate of ammonia.**
|
|
4.
Repeat layers 2 and 3 until heap is 3-5 ft. high. If more material is to be
dealt with, start a new heap. |
| |
|
5. Sprinkle a little lime,
ground limestone or chalk, after every foot or so, or apply layer of chalky
soil about 2 in. thick. But if using chemicals, follow maker's directions
about lime. |
|
6. When
heap has cooled down, turn it over from one end to the other, so that the
outside material goes to the middle and that from the middle to the outside. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
* [ed. note] sewage sludge is
not recommended, although some use it regularly as part of their sustainable
system. (see
Farmers of Forty Centuries)
** [ed. note] earthly pursuits
urges everyone to avoid "artificials" (chemical fertilizers) if possible and
practice sustainable, organic gardening. |
| |
|
previous |
|
|
|
next |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
