68 HORTICULTURE LECT. iv 



mixture for all kinds of green crops (except peas, beans, and 

 clover), as well as for strawberries, fruit bushes, and trees that 

 need extra support. Apply in early spring at the rate of about 

 2 ozs. per square yard ; 4 Ibs. per square rod (30 yards) ; 

 1^ cwt. per rood (% acre) ; 5 cwt. per acre. This is a full 

 dressing, and less may be used in good soil. If growth is 

 not satisfactory, follow in a month with a half dressing of 

 nitrate of soda (J oz. per square yard). 



2. SUPERPHOSPHATE OF LIME AND KAINIT. Take 3 parts 

 (or pounds) superphosphate and 1 part kainit, mix well and 

 apply as advised above. It is excellent for potatoes, scattering 

 a handful in a length of 8 yards of trench when planting, and 

 is good also for peas, beans, and clover. 



3. NITRATE OF SODA. The best spring and summer dress- 

 ing for light soil when potato and other crops are just starting 

 into growth to stimulate them. For cold heavy land, sulphate 

 of ammonia is perhaps better (nitrate of soda lowering the 

 temperature). Rate to apply : the half dressing as advised in 

 No. 1 mixture. N.B. Nitrate of soda should not be used 

 alone year after year : it is more a stimulant than a durable 

 food of crops. 



4. COMMON SALT. Useful for all such crops as cabbages, 

 winter greens, turnips, mangolds, and wheat, especially in dry 

 soils, applied in spring, at the rate advised for No. 1. It is 

 not required near the sea. 



5. SOOT. This is an excellent manure because rich in salts 

 of ammonia, and it also contains salts of potash and soda, as 

 well as sulphate of lime. Soot is used extensively and profitably 

 for onions in Bedfordshire, and is good for all root and green 

 crops. It is sown at the rate of 40 to 60 bushels per acre, or 

 1 peck to 1| peck per rod. It should not be applied with lime 

 or the ammonia will be dissipated. 



6. POULTRY MANURE. This mixed with six times its bulk 

 of perfectly dry soil, and kept in a dry place, is excellent as a 

 top-dressing for fruit trees, vegetables, and flowers. 



7. AMMONIA-FIXED GUANO. Guaranteed to contain not less 

 than 8 per cent, of ammonia and 20 per cent, of phosphates, 

 this is one of the best dressings for crops generally, applied in 

 early spring as advised for No. 1, and repeated in a few weeks if 

 the land is poor. 



8. PROPRIETARY MANURES. Many of these are sold by 

 nurserymen and seedsmen. They are necessarily more costly 

 than obtaining the leading kinds separately and mixing. These, 

 however, are not always easy to procure in small quantities. 

 Specially blended manures such as Thomson's, Cannell's, 



