26 PRACTICAL GARDENING. 



it contains is decomposed, because then the whole dissolves. 

 A quarter of a peck of either, when rotted into mould, will 

 render ten gallons of water far better than ordinary water for 

 all garden crops ; and when applied to onions, makes an 

 astonishing difference, as may be seen in a very short time, by 

 watering one portion with plain water, and the other with 

 such as we have described. 



Manure Tanks. — Everybody should have a tank which 

 would receive all the drainings of manure heaps, and the 

 rains will always occasion a waste of the best juices if this be 

 not done. A tank may be bricked, and in the lowest part of 

 the space occupied by dung-heaps and decaying vegetable 

 matter. These drainings, well diluted, can be used with the 

 greatest possible advantage in dry hot weather j a soaking of 

 the entire ground, not the mere watering of the plants, being 

 the proper mode of applying it. But wherever this is done, 

 it should be, whether little or much, used with as much water 

 as will moisten the whole space to be watered, so that all may 

 fare alike. If there be but little, the ground has the benefit 

 of all there is, and by using enough water all the space is 

 served alike. In all cases where the liquid manure is used, 

 select the crop which is the most in want of it, — that is, the 

 crop on the poorest ground, or that requires the greatest 

 assistance, and give it all without helping any neighbouring 

 subject. If you are so situate as not to be able to use liquid 

 manure to crops, it is just as efficacious to soak a piece of 

 vacant ground with it, because the strength is there ready for 

 the first thing that is placed there ; and it is an excellent 

 plan to soak a space of ground the day previous to sowing 

 anytliing, especially turnips ; for, the ground being in good 

 order, the seed vegetates immediately, and having good hold 

 rarely fails to turn out well. There is nothing better in the 

 summer months than a good soaking of the ground previous 

 to planting or solving ; a plain watering is useful, but hquid 

 manure is better, and when you have none it is worth while 

 to make it, by putting a barrowful of horse droppings, cows' 

 dung, or sheep dung, into a hogshead of water the day before 

 it is wanted, and stirring it up two or three times. The 

 application should be all over the surface, not hasty enough 

 to let it run away, but gentle enough to let it soak down three 

 or four inches into the ground. Many things are calculated 

 to form a good dressing, but we may in one word say that 



