MANURES 51 



in nitrogen. Its chief properties, however, are (1) a 

 strong insecticide, and (2) a warmth-giver to cold 

 ground. The latter property is due to its great power of 

 absorbing the sun's rays. Every particle of this material 

 should be collected periodically, carefully stored in a 

 dry shed, and used as required. It may be given as a 

 dressing to land just as the crops are coming through or 

 placed in little rings close around plants to which slugs 

 are very attentive. Soot water, made by soaking a peck 

 of soot in forty gallons of water for a fortnight, is a 

 nourishing food for growing crops. 



Salt may be used with beneficial results where it is 

 desired to liberate potash and lime from the soil and 

 present it to the plants in an assimilable form. It 

 increases the power of soils to retain moisture, a most 

 valuable property in cases of dry lands. As an insecti- 

 cide its qualities are obvious. Peas and beans are much 

 benefited by its use. 



Ash is good if applied with care. Coal ash serves to 

 break up heavy soils and is thus most beneficial, but the 

 sulphur contained by it is harmful, injuring young plant 

 growths and neutralising the effects of lime. Wood ash, 

 the residue of the autumn bonfire, is highly valuable, 

 especially just now, as it is rich in potash. It should be 

 collected, stored in dry tins, and applied during the 

 spring and summer. 



Vegetable Refuse, i.e., the leaves collected in the 

 autumn, especially oak leaves, the refuse from cabbage 

 and similar plants, hedge clippings, the grass thrown out 

 of the mowing box, and all such matter is highly useful 

 and should be preserved in a pit or cage. Every fort- 

 night, whilst additions are being made to its bulk, a few 



