87 



cially if the intended dosis is divided and given at different times. 

 Professor Voerhees tried 20 tons of dung, containing 60 Ib. of 

 nitrogen, against 160 ib. of nitr,ate of soda, containing only 25 Ib. of 

 nitrogen, and the latter produced a larger crop of tomatoes. 

 You can, through its nature ;to rapidly permeate the soil, push 

 forward foliage, wood, flower, or fruit ; in fact, develop your plants 

 almost at will. In strong and clayey soils sulphate of ammonia, 

 which should contain 448 Ib. of nitrogen to the ton, is more lasting 

 than nitrate of soda, but it should not be applied to chalky and 

 limestone lands, as lime expels the ammonia in the shape of gas. 

 Peruvian guano should contain in a ton 357 Ib. of nitrogen, 213 Ib. 

 of phosphoric acid, 182 Ib. of potash, and 198 IB of lime. Its nitrogen 

 (cost 12 to 14 per ton) is so easily soluble that it is said to be equal 

 to 22 tons of dung. Our coastal guanos may be more or less leached 

 out by rain, and their composition demands a guarantee more than 

 any other commercial fertiliser. Prices from- 2/12/6 to 4. Our 

 bonemeals contain from 2.7 to 4.14 per cent, of nitrogen, and from 

 36.66 to 52.96 per cent, of acid soluble phosphate at a price vary- 

 ing from 5 to 5/15/. Next to bonemeal our Australian culti- 

 vators had the most acquaintance with superphosphate, and those 

 in the market contain from about 37 to 41 per cent, of soluble phos- 

 phate. It is conceded that it gives a very early, rapid, and vigorous 

 growth to plants, and the price is from 4/10/ to 5 for mineral super- 

 phosphates, and 6/10/ for bone superphosphate per ton. Thomas 

 phosphate or basic slag is less known, and only lately has Pro- 

 fessor Dr. Wagner acknowledged its use as a top-dresser; but it is 

 most valuable as giving a more lasting supply of phosphoric acid, 

 which will ensure the healthy development of all plants that require 

 a, longer period for growing, or as biennials or perennials. When 

 subsoiling, it should be mixed with it, as it is not lost through 

 leaching. The price is from 3/5/ to 3/1 5/ per ton. Potash is- 

 generally neglected in Australia, and yet there are garden crops 

 that require it more than any other manure. The high prices of 

 muriate of potash, 13/15/, and sulphate of potash 14/5/, seem to 

 prevent even experiments, while the cheap kainit, 4, is not often 

 applied on account of its large contents of common salt. 



Green manuring should not be omitted where it can be success- 

 fully carried on. Lime, marl, salt, gypsum are indirect manures, 

 i.e., they influence the fertility of the soil in an indirect way, as they 

 convert inert fertilising matter in the soil into available plant 

 food, and exert a considerable effect on the texture of the soil. 

 Dung cannot be surpassed in the matter of mulching, unless the fruit, 

 as, for instance, strawberries, rest on. the ground. Weight for 

 weight, the refuse portion of vegetables, which we ought to return 

 to the soil, abstracts more plant food from the soil than the mar- 

 ketable portion, as can be seen in the following table. 



In fresh condition 1 ton of 2,240 Ib. of the following vegetables 

 contains in pounds the following constituents, viz. : 



