the fertilising power of soot, 177 



The Fertilising Power of Soot. 



Soot is, no doubt, the most powerful ready-made 

 manure we possess ; it is, moreover, a good insecticide. 

 If in the early spring Gooseberry-trees are liable, as 

 they often are, to the depredations of the caterpillar, 

 which insect frequently destroys whole crops by eating 

 all the leaves off the trees, it is a good plan to go over 

 the whole plants, and sow a good dressing of soot 

 completely over trees and ground before the leaf breaks 

 out, and again as soon as the leaves are developed. 

 Never mind about the look ; no detriment will accrue 

 to the fruit, nor will the fly deposit her eggs on the 

 leaf, for it does not like soot. 



Two pounds of soot and two of salt, mixed together 

 and sown on one perch or rod of ground, dug in and 

 well mixed with the soil, is the best manure I know of 

 for Carrots — in fact, it is quite equal to bone manure. 

 I tried the two side by side. I had the best crop of 

 Carrots I think I ever saw from this manure ; the land 

 was light. 



One pound of salt and two of soot, sown over one 

 rod of ground, will produce a fine crop of Potatoes. 

 Two pounds of soot, sown in the trench when the 

 Potatoes are planted, will grow a good crop. 



Three ounces of soot and six ounces of guano will 

 produce finer Rhubarb than any other manure extant, 

 and more quickly too. Apply it in a liquid state just 

 before the crowns break, and once after the first pull 

 of the crop. A thorough soaking to the roots with 

 this is necessar}' each time. 



Soot alone, sown at the rate of two pounds to the 

 rod over young Cabbages in the months of February 

 and March, is proved to be one of the finest stimulants 

 possible in the production of these most desirable vege- 

 tables, giving them a beautiful rich dark green. 



Soot alone, sown over grass during March and April, 

 in showery weather, proves one of the most active 

 agents in producing a large crop of hay ; one pound 

 per rod is enough. 



