50 GROW YOUR OWN VEGETABLES 



Kainit and Muriate of Potash are potassic manures 

 which were obtained chiefly from Germany. Accord- 

 ingly, they are at present extremely scarce. 



Sulphate of Ammonia is a cheap nitrogenous manure 

 which is a by-product of coal gas. Applications should 

 be given to the ground either shortly before sowing or 

 whilst the crops are growing. It is easily obtained at the 

 present time and is, therefore, taking the place of nitrate 

 of soda, which is almost unprocurable. 



Lime may be obtained in various forms, i.e., quicklime, 

 ground lime, slaked lime, ground limestone and gas lime. 

 It is a valuable ingredient, being not only a plant food, 

 an insecticide, and a soil sweetener, but has the power of 

 acting on organic matter already in the ground, forcing 

 it to decay and so providing quantities of plant food 

 which, though present in the soil, were unassimilable. 

 Lime also has the power of breaking up stiff land and 

 giving it warmth and a better drainage ; it liberates 

 potash from clay ; it gives binding qualities to sand and 

 thus enables it to retain manures far more satisfactorily. 

 Clearly lime is one of the most valuable chemicals which 

 the grower can give to his lands, but it must be used 

 with caution. Never put it into intimate contact with 

 animal manures or it will drive off the ammonia ; use it 

 sparingly for potatoes or scab will appear, and keep it 

 away from tender root stocks. As a rule, the ordinary 

 forms should be used as a top dressing about fourteen 

 days before the final digging, but gas lime, which is a 

 most powerful insecticide, should be on the ground six 

 months before planting time. 



Soot, when collected from household flues and kept 

 for a fortnight is a very useful manure, being fairly rich 



