360 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



and from other things. This nitrogen specially creates leaves 

 and soft stems. The best way to obtain these manures 

 is to purchase each one in a raw state from the merchants, 

 and mix them to form what is called a complete manure, in 

 this proportion : Phosphate, 4 Ibs. ; kainit, 2 Ibs. ; and nitrate, 

 2 Ibs. Generally the rule is to mix the two first only, and 

 apply them when soil is dug or forked over in the winter, 

 adding the nitrate after the crop has made some growth, 

 and hoeing it in immediately. Lime may be applied at the 

 rate of half a bushel per rod to wet, sour, or clogged soil, 

 saving a manure dressing for the season. Soot may be bene- 

 ficially applied to land or crops at almost any time. 



Liquid Manures. Plants can always utilise liquid manures 

 the moment applied, because they are very quick acting. 

 They are especially valuable for plants in pots or other re- 

 stricted area, where food is limited. But they are all the 

 same of the greatest benefit applied freely to trees, shrubs, 

 roses, fruits, vegetables, and flowers of nearly every descrip- 

 tion. A pound of guano, soaked in six gallons of water, 

 or a peck of good horse droppings, or fowls' manure, put 

 into a bag, or half a peck of soot, all similarly treated, make 

 good liquid manure. House sewage is good applied to coarse 

 vegetables or trees. The drainings of farmyards, stables, &c., 

 with three times the quantity of water added, make good 

 liquid manure also. Still these liquids should not be applied 

 too freely ; a watering once a week suffices for most growing 

 plants. 



In gardens it is an excellent plan to have a large tub 

 that can be used for the making of liquid manure of any 

 description standing in some out-of-the-way corner. When 

 the liquid is used daily, though not to the same crop or plant, 

 no unpleasant smell is emitted. When not in use an old 

 sack or mat may be thrown over the tub. 



