26 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



larly phosphates. The manure should be spread 

 evenly over the ground and dug in as early as oppor- 

 tunity offers. On heavy clay soils it is better to dig 

 the manure in during autumn or winter, while light 

 sandy soils are best dug in late winter or early 

 spring, some time before the planting season begins. 

 In the operation, the rough strawy portion of the 

 manure should be pushed into the open trench as 

 the work proceeds, and the short material turned 

 over along with the top spade depth, so that it be- 

 comes mixed with the soil. 



Poultry and Pigeon Manures. This is a rich and 

 valuable manure, but one that rapidly deterio- 

 rates if it is allowed to ferment, or is washed with 

 rain. To avoid this loss it should either be kept 

 dry under cover and be turned occasionally, or if 

 placed in a heap outside it should be mixed with 

 about an equal bulk of soil. If mixed. with soil it 

 may be applied at half the rate recommended for 

 ordinary farmyard manure, but if used in its fresh, 

 pure state at only a quarter of that rate. 



Seaweed. Where obtainable, this is an excellent 

 manure and one frequently rich in potash. It is a 

 good manure for potatoes and root crops, and from 

 the quantity of salt it contains it is equally valuable 

 for asparagus, cabbages, and other green crops. On 

 light dry soils it may be applied at about the same 

 rate as farmyard manure, while on heavy land half 

 that quantity would be sufficient. 



Wood Ashes. When prunings and waste vege- 

 table refuse are burned, the ashes provide a valuable 

 fertiliser rich in potash. These should either be 

 immediately applied to the soil, or be stored in a dry 



