Even if you want to fertilize, you have to choose a method that you can do. In "The Development of Farmyard Manure from Ancient Times to the Present", Manbao has selected three methods that they can do.
The three mentioned by the author have developed successively. Man Bao thinks that one of them is the same as the current retting method at home.
And the one they are using now, because of the use of heat preservation measures and the secondary processing of the dropped materials, the speed will be much faster.
Because the weather has warmed up recently, Manbao and the others have decided to plant ginger in a while, and a lot of farmyard manure will be needed at that time, so she chose this method.
Seeing that his father really didn't mean to blame her, Man Bao became more courageous again, and proudly said to him: "Father, I'm thinking about this method and I don't know if it will work, so let the fourth brother try it first and wait until it succeeds." I'll tell you again."
Old Zhou Tou was really happy, touched the little girl's head in relief and said: "Man Bao is thinking carefully, just now your elder brother and I looked at it, this method is indeed good, you have only dug this pit for seven or eight days, and now It’s fermented, and it might rot out in a few days.”
Man Bao cheered up, and immediately said: "The book says to control the temperature and not let it be too hot, otherwise the fertility will be burned, so when the temperature is too high, dig it out to dissipate heat, or dry it in the sun, etc. When the temperature drops, pile them together again, and then pour some dung water for secondary fermentation, Dad, do you think our temperature is high enough?"
How did Old Zhou know, he had never used this method before, and this was the first time he heard that the temperature of the compost heap should not be too high.
But after all, he is a person who has been farming all his life. Even if he doesn't understand, he can still think about it. Unlike Zhou Zhoulang, he just does what Man Bao says.
So after thinking about it for a while, he asked Da Lang to open the grass cover again, and then went to fertilize.
Several sons were left behind by Lao Zhou. Of course, Man Bao, who was the only one who could read and teach, also stayed, and the others and the children went back first.
Zhou Xi glanced at the child standing among the adults, and helped her mother back.
Obviously, the trouble caused by this fat is not small, and the whole family has joined the battle. Before Zhou Xi knew that Zhou Zhou Lang used her as a cover to steal fat, he was so angry that his chest hurt, and he almost couldn't help beating him on the spot. After Man Bao appeared The mood was ups and downs, and at this time, it also calmed down.
The Zhou family members who were walking back were very quiet. Qian asked Datou and the others to run home first, while he walked slowly while holding Zhou Xi's hand. If you are in a hurry, something will go wrong, and you must be more calm in the future."
When Qian said this, she was amused, "You still have to learn from your sister, you see how cowardly she was just now, and she knew how to look at your father's face first."
Zhou Xi couldn't help but said, "That kid is so clever."
Zhou Xi supported her mother, couldn't hold back for a while, and said what was in her heart, "Mother, if I don't marry in the future, will you raise my younger sister for me?"
Surprised, Qian frowned and asked, "Why do you think so, Man Bao is already six years old, and she is still..."
Qian didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was obvious.
But Zhou Xi said: "I didn't ask her to call me mother. I just thought that in the future, there will be a child who will be closer to me. When I am old and dying, someone will come to see me and know whether I am dead or alive. Mother, I really don't want to get married."
Qian's face was tense and he didn't speak. Zhou Xi looked at her face and didn't dare to say any more, but he showed his heart.
Man Bao didn't know anything about this, she was squatting far away, watching her brothers being instructed by her father to dig out all the fat in the fat pit and spread it out for drying.
Sure enough, the temperature in the middle of the compost heap was very high. Although Lao Zhoutou had never encountered such a situation, but combined with what the little girl said, the compost would burn if the temperature was too high, so he knew it was burning.
So he had people push all the manure away to dry, so that everyone could see that the basket of rotten leaves they fell down first turned black, and they were broken into pieces just by touching them with a hoe. This is much faster than they stack straw.
You know, now they generally have to compost for a year.
From late summer to early spring when fertilizers are no longer used, it may take more than half a year for the straw to rot. This is a new method learned from outside the village. In the past, straw did not rot.
Zhou Dalang and Zhou Zhoulang couldn't help but look at each other, both felt that the daughter really looked like her father, and Man Bao was so much like her father. The improved method of composting in the village was bought by her father in exchange for two steamed buns.
Old Zhou Tou rubbed the fat with his hands, satisfied, "That's right, let it dry overnight, and pile it back up tomorrow."
He said again: "If this method works, we should also dig a pit for composting at home, so that the speed will be faster and the fertilizer will be more."
Because Manbao’s new method will use animal manure, but it is less than what they use now, which increases the demand for dead leaves and other soils, which means that they can accumulate more manure with the same amount of animal manure. Much fat.
For rural people, the most difficult part of farmyard manure is animal dung, because not everyone has so many livestock.
The reason why their family has it is because their family has a large population and raises a lot of chickens.
Old Zhou Tou plans to dig two big pits next to the compost heap at home to compost together, and act quickly before the rice seeds are planted.
As for the fertilizer needed for the rice seeds, well, let’s borrow the compost heap from the fourth child first. Didn’t this kid steal the fertilizer from the family
Let him use this to pay.
When Zhou Zhoulang heard that he didn't need to be beaten or scolded, but only needed to pay for his fat, he immediately agreed, completely ignoring the other master's wishes.
Man Bao was concerned about his own ginger, and hurriedly said to Lao Zhou: "Father, I will pay you the fat of this pit first, and later I will grow ginger to be fat, so you have to return it to me."
"It's all said to be paid, why do you want to pay it back?"
"I don't care, I have to pay it back, or my ginger won't grow well."
Old Zhou Tou felt that the girl's posture was very crop-like, so he laughed happily. He nodded and said, "Okay, I will pay you."
Just dig another fat hole, anyway, he doesn't have much else, but he has many sons, and they all rush to the mountains to dig mud and sweep away rotten leaves, and they can use as much fertilizer as they want.
Sons: …
Man Bao didn't know anything, and after getting Lao Zhou's affirmation, he took his hand and went home happily. Zhou Liulang wanted to carry her book box but Lao Zhou refused.
Old Zhou Tou personally held the bookcase for her, held her little hand and said earnestly, "Man Bao, you have to study hard in school and listen to Mr. Zhuang, you know?"
Man Bao nodded.
He said again: "Read more books, especially the book on fertilization and farming. If there is anything good in the book, you must tell dad. When the family earns money, dad will buy you meat to eat."
"Father, you said the same thing last time. You said that the family would buy meat for me when they earned money, but they didn't buy it. In the end, I bought it."
The old Zhou Tou was dismantled, he smiled and said: "Your mother is holding the money, do you want to eat meat? Then tell your mother later, let your mother give you the money."