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Draining and subsoiling therefore increase the amount of available 

 moisture in the soil. To keep it there for the benefit of vegetation, and 

 prevent its escape by mere surface evaporation, we have recourse to 

 mulching. As it is generally known, this operation consists in cover- 

 ing the soil with any loose material, such as straw, wood chips, tan 

 bark, etc., and although it may not be practicable to carry out this 

 process to any great extent in agriculture, yet in orcharding, and in- 

 deed all tree culture, as well as in the case of small fruits, it is a com- 

 mendable practice, the advantages of which are well authenticated. 

 Especially in newly formed plantations is its great value conspicuous ; 

 not only is evaporation arrested, but the soil is secured against the 

 compacting effects of heavy rainfalls, weeds are kept down, and root 

 growth encouraged. But where it is not expedient to apply foreign 

 matter to the surface an efficient substitute can be had in the soil it- 

 self by simply keeping the surface loose by cultivation. A few inches 

 of loose, powdery soil on the surface forms a capital nonconducting 

 stratum, and likewise has the great advantage of being easily secured. 



It can not be too often repeated that the three cardinal operations in 

 soil culture are drainage, subsoiliug, and mulching. 



LIQUID MANUKE FOE PLANTS IN POT CULTCTEE. 



The importance of liquid manure in general cultivation is acknowl- 

 edged, but the expense of its application on an extensive scale, such as 

 to farm crops, furnishes a strong reason against its use. 



It is also asknowledged that the liquid state is the best in which stim- 

 ulating and fertilizing ingredients can be presented to the roots, as they 

 can absorb nourishment only through the medium of water, and all 

 matters that enter into the interior of plants must be in a soluble con- 

 dition, or so minutely divided as to be carried along with the water 

 before they can enter into the vessels of the plant. 



In the pot culture of plants, where the amount of soil is limited, the 

 use of liquid manure is of vast service when judiciously applied, but 

 much harm may be occasioned by its indiscriminate use. Many persons 

 consider it necessary to resort to the use of guano and other solutions 

 on sickly plants, and are surprised to find that the application only 

 hastens the dissolution of the patient. 



It is only healthy and well-rooted plants that are to be benefited by 

 manures, and such as are supplied with hungry roots but growing 

 slowly for want of nutriment. Such plants as have been for years in 

 the same pot or tub, as we frequently find orange and lemon trees, 

 camelias, oleanders, etc., will be greatly stimulated by the application 

 of manurial liquids during their period of growth. For plants of all 

 kinds that have their pots filled with roots it will be serviceable, and 

 to such as fuchsias, pelargoniums, cineraries, etc., while in flower, they 

 will bloom longer and in greater perfection. But it should be kept in 



