Vegetable Gardens & Organic Matter:

Organic mat improves l as a growing medium for nts. It helps release nitrogen, minerals, other nutrients for nt when it decays. A mulch of partially rotted straw, compost, or undecomposed crop residue on the l helps keep the l surface from crusting, retards wa loss from the l, keeps weeds from growing.Practically any nt maial be composted for in the garden. Leaves, old sod, lawn clippings, straw, nt ref from the garden or kitchen be d. Often, leaves be obtained from neighbors who do not them or from street sweepings.

The purpose of composting nt ref or debris is to decay it so that it be easily worked into the l will not be unsightly when d in the garden. Composting maial should be kept moist supplied with commercial fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, to make it decay fas more thoroughly.

The usual practice in building a compost p is to accumul the organic maial in some out-of-the-way ce in the garden. It be built on open ground or in a bin made of cinder blocks, rough boards, or wire fence. The sides of the bin should not be airtight or watight. A convenient time to make a compost p is in the fall when leaves are plentiful.

In building the compost p, spread out a layer of nt ref about 6 inches deep add one-half pound or one cupful of 10-10-10, 10-20-10, or 10-6-4 fertilizer to each 10 square feet of surface. Then add 1 inch of l enough wa to moisten but not soak it. This process is reped until the p is 4 to 5 feet high. Make the top of the p concave to catch rainwa.

If alkaline compost is wed, ground limestone be spread in the p at the same r as the fertilizer.
The compost p will not decay rapidly until the weather warms up in spring summer. In midsummer, decay be hastened by forking over the p so moisture get to parts that have remained dry. The compost should be ready for by the end of the first summer.

For a continuing supply of compost, a new p should be built every year. Compost be d as a mulch, or worked into flower beds the vegetable garden.�

When properly prepared thoroughly decayed, compost is not likely to harbor diseases or insects. If the compost is d in l where an attempt is made to control nt diseases, or if it is mixed with l d for raising seedlings, the l should be disinfected with chemicals recommended by your local Extension agent or St agricultural college.