SPEEDING-UP HUMUS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 38, 10 April 1942, Page 5

SPEEDING-UP HUMUS

A TARANAKI METHOD

VENT IN COMPOST TANK

An interesting system of composting has been evolved by Mr E. T. Petty, of New Plymouth and should I be of interest to Wliakatane gardeners. The process of decomposition is hastened by allowing air to be drawn through the material by means of air vents in the* bottom of the pit or container. The system is the same as that for a slowly-burning fire, when the general practice is to hold a newspaper across the fireplace, causing an inrush of air through the grate and a stimulation of the 1 fire itself. Thus, the air vents in the bottom of the humus-making plant are only large enough to cause an in-draught of air, with a consequent stimulation of the heating process and of the bacterial action. With large air vents, it has been shown that the decomposition of waste material has been slowed down to some extent. Mr Petty's humus-malting plant is constructed of cement and boulders, and is Bft long by 3ft wide and 2ft 9i-n deep. The plant is divided midway by a partition, and in the bottom of each pit or container a 12in square is dug out of 'the earth and covered with heavy wire netting. Leading to the outside from each 12in square is a pipe. Mr Petty uses old drums with the ends cut out. but a 9in pipe is considered ideal for this purpose. Procedure Adopted' Material is placed in one container in layers, and in a fortnight to three weeks is turned into thft other container when the first is filled again. At the end of a month to six weeks the first lot of material is completely broken down and is rcadj r for use. Included in the waste matter used in this plant are wood shavings and sawdust, and although these have not been used in any quantity, they have disappeared and been completeh* broken down. For the average gardener the plant is described as ideal, but for market gardeners and others larger plants could be installed, depending on the size of the farm or garden and the amount of waste material available. Without doubt, this is a rapid method of making humus, and many institutions, such as bowling and golf clubs, county councils and schools, arc installing " such plants for the transformation of waste organic material into humus.