HUMUS AND ANIMAL MANURES - Part 2

Articles In This Section:

· PLANT FOODS

· ANALYSIS OF PLANT ASH

· ORGANIC WASTE MATTER

· MAJOR PLANT FOOD ELEMENTS

· MINOR PLANT FOOD ELEMENTS - Part 1

· MINOR PLANT FOOD ELEMENTS - Part 2

· FOLIAGE FEEDING

· SOIL ACIDITY OR ALKALINITY

· HUMUS AND ANIMAL MANURES - Part 1

· HUMUS AND ANIMAL MANURES - Part 2

· VEGETABLE MANURES

· COMPOST

· LIQUID MANURES

Bird-droppings are the richest of all animal manures available to the gardener. Kept from exposure, as when obtained from birds housed under intensive systems, they have a very high content of nitrogen. Nitrogen is excreted by animals principally in urine, which birds void in conjunction with their faeces; there is a relatively low potassium content. Bird manure is dangerous to plants if used too freely, because of its richness in nitrogen and because it is usually alkaline. It is improved in quality and safety if stored in a heap, mixed with earth, under cover, for a week or more. Lime is often used in bird-pens and increases the danger by adding to the alkalinity, though it liberates a great proportion of the nitrogen. Bird manure is much better without lime. The addi-tion of dry wood ashes helps to correct the deficiency of potash.

Sheep dung contains more nitrogen, more phosphorus, and slightly more potash than either horse or cow dung. Unless collected from pens, and therefore containing a lot of urine, it is slow-acting. It usually contains great numbers of weed seeds. It should not be used from yards after the sheep have been through arsenical dips.

Pig dung is very rich, and must be used sparingly. It is best kept in a heap with soil for some weeks before use. Its moisture-retaining powers make it specially suitable for light soils, but its offensive odour makes it undesirable in suburban areas.

Blood manure is rich and quick in action. It is far more concentrated than animal excrements. It should be used almost as sparingly as chemical fertilizers, with a maximum dressing of about three ounces to the square yard. It may be applied soon after pruning and again about five weeks before roses are due to bloom in the spring or, in the summer, about two weeks before and after the summer trimming. Its lack of bulk allows of its being scattered amongst plants, with no resultant un-sightliness. Its chief active component is nitrogen.

Bone-meal contains a high percentage of phosphorus, but since it is in an insoluble form the manurial action is slow. Roses utilize the food as it is liberated by bacterial activities and the steady action of acid root excretion. Very good use may be made of bone-dust when preparing new beds. It yields only a small proportion of its plant food during the first year; the effect usually being greater during the second year; and its influence extends over many years. In subsequent years small quantities should be added regularly to the surface soil. It is so slow in acting that it is safe, even on very young plants, at any time of the year, but is easy to add in conjunction with other manures such as blood, cow dung, bird-droppings, pig dung, horse manure or compost. Containing as it does a great number of minor elements in organic form, it is one of our best plant foods.