LECT. iv ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 67 



none of it, and when any can be spared give it to the 

 fruit trees copiously, if they are weakly or stunted 

 in growth. 



For vegetables in full growth liquid manure may be 

 used twice a week ; for younger crops once a week 

 will suffice. Whenever it is used there must be no 

 mere surface wetting, but a thorough soaking of the 

 soil. This should be done in the evening to prevent 

 excessive evaporation. 



In strawberry culture exceptionally fine fruit is a 

 certainty if liquid manure is given once or twice a 

 week, from the time the flower trusses are visible up 

 to the colouring of the fruit. 



Never give liquid manure to the soil when it is 

 quite dry, or much of it will be wasted. It is only 

 when the soil is moist that the roots can imbibe its 

 virtues, therefore it is often of great advantage in 

 summer to first soak the ground with pure water, to 

 " swell " the soil, and render it more absorbent, then 

 follow a few hours afterwards with the more nourish- 

 ing liquid fare. 



Than manuring the soil rationally intelligently, 

 no work on the earth can be more important, and 

 none more deserving of the most thoughtful attention, 

 for the more we consider the subject the more con- 

 vinced shall we be that the source of wealth and the 

 necessities of life will, and must, be found in the food 

 of crops. 



ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. 



In order to save space the questions are not published with 

 this lecture. Advice on applying manure to strong land was 

 given in Lecture II., pp. 40 and 41. The answers given on 

 special manures, their uses and application, are arranged under 

 numbers as follows : 



1. SUPERPHOSPHATE OF LIME AND NITRATE OF SODA. Two 

 parts of the former and one of the latter make an excellent 



TZ 9. 



