88 THE CULTIVATION OF THE 



quantities of food into his stomach, yet the system can- 

 not make use of it and it becomes a still further source of 

 disturbance. (This may happen in over-fertilized trees 

 as well as in diseased or starved trees. — J. J. BLACK.) 

 In looking for a remedy for this diseased condition, we 

 would select those elements that are supposed to have an 

 especially stimulating effect upon the diseased organs, 

 and we find that potash possesses the property of 

 increasing the vigor of the leaf-action of plants. 



The muriate of Potash is generally thought to be 

 the best and it is possible that the chlorine it contains, 

 which is so destructive to animal and plant life, may 

 have an antiseptic influence, preserving the contents of 

 the cells from fermentation and decay, or it may destroy 

 the germs within the cells. The way the remedy effects 

 this favorable result, however, is somewhat a matter of 

 conjecture, but the above seems a reasonable explanation. 

 Iron is known to have a very beneficial influence upon 

 the development of the green coloring-matter of the leaf 

 of plants, and may generally be applied in small quanti- 

 ties with good results. Potash alone has the effect to 

 cause rather a late growth, and this effect must be 

 counteracted by the use of phosphoric acid found in the 

 common super-phosphates, or in a less soluble form in 

 ground bone — which has the effect of causing an early 

 maturity of plant-tissues. The Magnesia is recom- 

 mended to assist in the diffusion and retention of the 

 potash in the soil. 



