SOILS, MANURES AND FERTILIZERS 19 
plants successfully. Fortunately, manure rotted as 
described above, furnishes all three elements in 
about the right proportions. Cow, sheep, hen and 
pigeon manure are best used as described later, 
under “ Liquid Manuring.” 
FERTILIZERS 
There are many brands of mixed fertilizers pre- 
pared specially for use in the greenhouse or on 
plants in pots. There is a temptation to use these 
on account of their convenient compact form, and 
because they are more agreeable to handle. As a 
general rule, however, much better results will be 
obtained by relying on rotted manure. 
If you want to use fertilizers at all—and for 
certain purposes they will be very valuable —TI 
would advise restricting the list to the following 
pure materials which are not mixed, and which are 
always uniform; nitrate of soda, cottonseed meal, 
pure fine ground bone, and wood ashes. (Several 
of the other chemicals are good, but not so com- 
monly used.) 
Ground bone is the most valuable of these. It 
should be what is known as “ fine ground,” or bone 
dust. It induces a strong but firm growth, and can 
be used safely in the potting soil, supplementing the 
manure as a source of plant food. From two to 
three quarts to a bushel of soil is the right amount 
to use. It should be thoroughly mixed through the 
