THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



129 



ammonia. It is from neglect of this prin- 

 ciple that failures in the application of 

 these manures are to be attributed, as not 

 only is the ammonia lost, but the plant is 

 very frequently killed by the sudden libe- 

 ration of strong ammonia, which is in 

 its pure state fatal to most plants. But 

 we have other substances which con- 

 tain ammonia, and which are equally 

 valuable as manures. Soot is one of 

 them. Soot contains from 2i to 4 per 

 cent, of ammonia. The best method of 

 applying it is to mix the soot in a tub 

 with water, and to filter it before applying 

 it to the plant. It is a very useful manure, 

 one which is no expense, and may be applied 

 with safety. Tlie ammonia in soot is 

 mostly in the form of sulphate of ammonia. 

 As before stated, the urine of man, and 

 other animals, contains ammonia ; that of 

 man contains the most ; 1000 parts of which 

 contains thirty to thirty-five of ammonia ; 

 that of the horse, fifteen ; the cow, nine ; 

 sheep, seventeen ; and the pig, four parts 

 only. The dung of most animals contains 

 less than the urine, as in the horse, 1000 

 parts contain only seven parts of ammonia; 

 in the cow, four ; in the sheep, nine ; in 

 the pig, one part only in 1000. The dung 

 of all birds contains a very large amount 

 of nitrogen. This is easily explained from 

 the fact that, owing to the peculiar orga- 

 nization, the urine and dung are evacuated 

 together, so that the dung contains all the 

 ammonia. Guano is a very good sample 

 of the dung of birds ; it contains from 

 15 to 20 per cent, of ammonia : so we see 

 the great caution necessary in using so 

 powerful a fertiUzer as bird-dung or guano. 

 In applying hydrochlorate or any of the 

 salts of ammonia, it is necessary to use it 

 with caution ; a quarter of an ounce to a 

 gallon of water is a good proportion for 

 most plants. Some will bear it a little 

 stronger. 



If we burn a plant in the air, or in any 

 manner so as to decompose it entirely, we 

 have left a small residue of white ash. 

 This is familiar to all ; we know that in a 

 fire composed of wood we get a considei-able 

 portion left which we call ashes, which if 

 we collect we shall find to be principally 

 potash and lime. In countries where wood 

 is abundant and of little value, as in 

 America and Russia, large quantities are 

 burned for the sake of the potash, which 

 is purified, and comes into the market as 

 pearlash, or, more properly speaking, car- 

 bonate of potash. Potash is not an ele- 

 ment, but a compound substance, com- 

 posed of a metal, potassium, and oxygen. 

 Potassium was discovered by Sir Humphry 

 Davy. It is one of the lightest metals 

 we have ; it is lighter than water, therefore 

 it will float on water. It is remarkable 

 for its affinity for oxygen ; it cannot be 

 kept exposed in the air an instant without 

 becoming covered with rust or oxide ; it 

 is, therefore, kept in a liquid which con- 

 tains no oxygen, and so preserved from 

 uniting with the oxygen of the air. If 

 we take a small piece, and throw it on 

 water, it will decompose the water, uniting 

 with the oxygen, and forming potash, 

 which will be left in the water ; the other 

 element, hydrogen, will take fire, owing to 

 the great heat given off by the potassium 

 in combining with the oxygen. The quan- 

 tity of potash contained in plants varies 

 much, according to the variety or species to 

 which they belong, some (as tobacco, for 

 instance), if burned, yield large quantities, 

 which, if applied as a top dressing, or 

 mixed with water as liquid manure, has 

 been applied with great success as a source 

 of potash. Potash is found in most loamy 

 soils, varying from one to ten parts in 

 1000 of the soil. The principal source of 

 potash in the soil is the mineral felspar, 

 which contains 16 per cent, of potash. 



EUSTIC BASKETS. 



BY SHIULET HIDBEED. 



When wilting " Rustic Adornments for 

 Homes of Taste," I was not content with 

 such rustic- work as I myself possessed for 

 purposes of illustration and criticism, but 

 visited many places where it is judiciously 

 displayed, and also many of the manufac- 

 turers. Nowhere did I see such excellent 

 examples as in the yard of Mr, Curry, at 

 Brook Street, Upper Clapton ; and folks 

 fond of rustic-work, and all growera of 



hardy ferns, should manage just now to 

 drop in there, and see the many excellent 

 examples which Mr. Curry has of summer- 

 houses, garden-seats, baskets, and root- 

 stumps of various kinds of bark and timber, 

 rough and polished. "What principally puts 

 one's patience out of joint in regard to 

 such things, is the injudicious Avay in 

 which many people, who ought to know 

 better, use them. A single bark-basket on 



