ARTIFICIAL FERTILISERS 221 



SOME SIMPLE FORMULA. 



I do not propose to refer to the many other " complete " 

 fertilisers by name, but to give here a few recipes for making 

 fertilisers at home. It must, however, be understood 

 that the results to be expected from the use of them may 

 not be so good as from some of the " complete " proprietary 

 fertilisers. The reason is that it is not possible at home 

 to get that intimate admixture of ingredients which 

 manufacturers are able to do with proper machinery for 

 the purpose. But some manufacturers take too little 

 trouble over this very important point, and in such cases 

 we can obtain better mixtures by our own labour. 



Moreover, manure manufacturers can obtain and use 

 materials which are out of the reach of private individuals. 

 With a bigger choice of materials better manures are 

 possible. 



The essential ingredients of manures are, as we have seen, 

 potash, phosphates, nitrogen, and lime, but if the fertiliser 

 is to be a stimulant only, one or two of these may be 

 omitted. The characteristic effects of potash and 

 phosphatic manures are the production of more flowers ; 

 and of nitrogenous manures the production of more leaf 

 and stem. All nitrates described in the preceding section, 

 as well as all ammonia compounds, encourage leaf produc- 

 tion ; potash manures (except nitrate of potash) and 

 phosphatic manures (except phosphate of ammonium), 

 encourage flowers. The two exceptions encourage both 

 leaves and flowers. 

 (i). A good Lawn Manure. 



Basic Slag (ground fine) , ' . . . . 3 Ibs. 



Kainit (crushed) . . . . . . . . 2 Ibs. 



Mix well, and apply in the autumn at the rate of 4 ozs. 

 per square yard. This manure may also be dug into vacant 

 flower borders in the autumn or early winter. 

 (2). A Good " Complete " Fertiliser. 



Nitrate of Soda . . . . . . 3 ozs. 



Nitrate of Potash . . . . . . . . 2 ozs. 



Phosphate of Lime (superphosphate) . . 6 ozs. 



