THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



ising constituents of well-decayed manure are more 

 quickly available to the plants than are those in 

 fresh manure, but, on the other hand, fresh manure 

 soon rots and the fermentation of decay assists 

 in rendering soluble hitherto insoluble fertilising 

 constituents of the soil. If the chief object of ap- 

 plying the manure is to improve the mechanical 

 condition of the soil, the greatest benefit will be 

 had by giving fresh manure to heavy clay loams 

 and well-decayed manure to light, sandy loams. 

 On the other hand, if quick action is wanted, 

 greater benefit will be received under ordinary con- 

 ditions from fresh manure on light soil than on 

 heavy clay loam. On heavy soil decomposition 

 takes place slowly, so it is some time before the 

 plant food becomes available. Often there is no 

 immediate effect the first year. In light soil, un- 

 less the season is very dry, the fertilising constit- 

 uents of fresh manure become available about as 

 fast as the plant is in need of them. There is dan- 

 ger of leaching away of the nitrogen before it can 

 be used by the plants if well-decayed manure is 

 applied to sandy loams. On clay loams there is 

 no danger of this, because of their ability to absorb 



and retain large quantities of plant food. 



[34] 



