102 THE BEGINNER'S GARDEN BOOK 



seed, and in growing large roots. We try to feed these two 

 kinds of plants according to their different purposes. 



For the first group we ask the dealer for his best " top- 

 dressing." This is meant specially for grass and the lawn, 

 but it also encourages top growth in other plants. 



For the second group we ask the dealer for his best potato- 

 fertilizer. This encourages the potato to lay up starch in 

 tubers, but it will also encourage other kinds of plants to make 

 flowers, fruit, and seed. 



The chemist will tell you that the difference between these 

 two is that the first fertilizer contains, as compared with 

 phosphorus and potash, much nitrogen, while the second 

 contains little of it. And with these two fertilizers we 

 are ready to feed anything that grows on the ordinary 

 home place. 



You see what nitrogen does to plants : it encourages them 

 to make leaves and stalks. Therefore if you wish a plant of 

 any kind, which is not doing well, to grow rapidly, give it a 

 little nitrogen. Apart from our top-dressing, this can be 

 conveniently applied in two forms. The first is nitrate of 

 soda, a salt. The second is water in which fresh manure, 

 which is ricb*in nitrogen, has been soaked. 



We can easily test the value of nitrogen in encouraging, or 

 stimulating, plant growth. Take three pots of sandy earth. 

 In a quart of rain water (or melted snow) dissolve a half tea- 

 spoonful of nitrate of soda. In another soak a little fresh 

 manure (horse, cow, or both) and strain out the water as soon 

 as it has the color of weak tea. In one pot pour an ounce of 

 the nitrate water, in the second pour an ounce of the manure 

 water, measuring by means of the graduate or an ounce bottle 

 bought at the druggist's. Or use two and a half tablespoon- 

 fuls. Pour the water carefully all over the surface, and wash 

 it in with an equal amount of rain water. Mix the soil well. 



