52 GROW YOUR OWN VEGETABLES 



handfuls of salt should be sprinkled on the surface and 

 then the whole mass turned with a fork, in order that 

 complete rotting may be effected. This manure is rich 

 in nitrogen ; it may be used for digging into the trenches ; 

 for mixing with stable manure to form a hot-bed ; or 

 when completely rotted, for potting. 



Green Manuring is a cheap and valuable way of 

 restoring to overworked or poor ground the nourishment 

 so necessary for producing abundant crops. Instead of 

 purchasing farmyard manure or any of the artificials 

 which to-day are somewhat expensive, we sow one of 

 the following (the quantities are per square rod) : On 

 heavy and medium soils, Red Clover, 2 ozs. ; Lucerne 

 Alfalfa, 3 ozs. ; Spring Vetches (from February to June), 

 | pint ; Winter Vetches (from September to February), 

 1 pint. 



On light, sandy soils, Lupins (blue), J pint; Red 

 Clover, 2 ozs. ; Lucerne Alfalfa, 3 ozs. 



The above will provide almost unlimited supplies of 

 nitrogenous matter. If we desire to increase the humus 

 in the soil, we sow 



On heavy and medium soils, Giant Rape, 1 oz. ; White 

 Mustard, 2 ozs. 



On light, sandy soils, Buckwheat, | pint. 



Some of the above seed are not easily procurable, but 

 supplies are available at the Eastern Counties Farmers' 

 Co-operative Association of Ipswich. 



Green manuring (1) improves the mechanical con- 

 dition of both light and heavy soils ; (2) the surface of 

 the land is given a protective covering during the worst 

 months of the year ; we should note that bare soil loses 

 nitrates and lime, but covered soil does not in anything 



