QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 33 



apply manufactured fertilizers to reduce the number of insects and to 

 aftbrd an opportunity to cleanse the soil of weeds. 



177. Q. Do the qualities of animal excrement difter ? Excrement. 

 A. Very widely ; depending not only on the food supplied, but on the 



race ; as cows, horses, pigs and sheep require and assimilate or reject dif- 

 ferent chemical constituents. 



178. Q. What effect has lime on plants ? 



A. It generally shortens the period of growth and hastens the time of Lime, 

 ripening. 



179. Q. Is there a varying influence depending upon the moon's phases The Moon. 

 exercised on vegetation ? 



A. No ; not to the slightest degree. The peasantry of all nations, 

 from days of earliest record to the present day, have such a belief, and 

 regulate seed sowing, fence making, roofing, killing of meat, and other 

 farm and domestic duties by the moon's phases ; but there is not, to any 

 degree, any foundation for the practice. 



Analogous to this there is the belief that it is dangerous to sleep under 

 the moon's rays, and that insane persons are more visibly affected during 

 certain conditions of the moon ; but this is an exploded idea. 



180. Q. What are the properties of light on vegetation 1 i.ig:ht. 

 A. Light has three properties : 



(1). Luminosity. 



(2). Heat. 



(3.) A chemical property termed actinism. 



181. Q. What effect have the rays of the sun upon vegetation ? Sun Effect. 

 A. The luminous rays excite and quicken the vital action of growing 



plants by which they decompose carbonic acid gas. 



182. Q. What are the effects of solar heat? Solar Heat. 

 A. It influences vegetation from the shooting of the germ to the perfec- 

 tion of the fruit or seed ; under solar heat the flowers of plants consume 



oxygen while at the same time the leaves are emitting it. 



183. Q. What is the efi"ect of actinism? Actinism. 

 A. It quickens vegetation. Seeds will germinate hi darkness, but to 



vegetate freely they must have light. 



184. Q. What is the distinction between germination and vegetation ? Germination 

 A. Germination is the putting forth of a bud or germ. Vegetation is; 



the condition of subsequent growth. 



185. Q. Is it economical to make liquid manure by soaking stable ma- Liquid 

 nure in vats of water. Manure. 



A. Yes, because the valuable portions of the manure become thoroughly 

 amalgamated by fermentation, and the process of decomposition is com- 

 pleted before the manure is applied to the crop. Manure, in liquid form, 

 is very thoroughly and efficiently applied to the soil. 



186. Q. Why does decaying cabbage smell so badly ? Vegetable 

 A. Because of the escape of sulphuretted hydrogen gas. Decay. 



1 "'' 



Vegetation. 



