CHAPTER XXIII 



FERTILIZERS 



When a child has a garden, he wants a good 

 one, and there is nothing more important to a 

 garden than a good fertile soil. It should con- 

 tain those elements which are found in plants 

 and in such a form as to be available. When the 

 soil is exhausted of these elements the deficiency- 

 must be supplied by an application of fertilizers. 

 Potash, nitrogen and phosphoric acid exist in 

 large amounts in plant-tissues and are most 

 liable to be exhausted from the soil. Manures or 

 fertilizers are applied to the soil for the purpose 

 of increasing fertility; this is largely accom- 

 plished by supplying nitrogen ; potash and phos- 

 phoric acid. There are two kinds of manures — 

 farm-yard manure or other natural products 

 and commercial fertilizers; their functions are 

 twofold ; they supply elements of plant-food and 

 ameliorate the physical conditions of the soil. 

 Clay and compact soils are made more open and 

 porous by the application of natural manures; 

 they admit air and water to direct contact with 

 the dormant plant-food, which being acted upon, 



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