MANURES AND FERTILISERS. 27 



place until required, as rain washes out the potash. 

 The ashes are best applied on the rough surface of 

 the ground after digging. 



Soot. Soot is chiefly valuable as a nitrogenous 

 fertiliser. It stimulates growth, and has a beneficial 

 effect on the soil. Soot should not be burned, as 

 this would destroy its fertilising properties, and for 

 the same reason it should on no account be mixed 

 with lime when used as a fertiliser. It is best applied 

 broadcast in early spring on the rough dug surface 

 of the ground, and may be put on at the rate of 

 8 to 10 Ibs. to 30 square yards, or 1 cwt. to an area 

 of 300 square yards. Soot may alternatively be 

 used with good effect later in the season as a top- 

 dressing, when a light dusting only should be given 

 at intervals, between the rows of crops, and hoed in. 

 When used as a top-dressing, soot is better to be 

 kept under cover for a few weeks before application, 

 in order to render it harmless to tender plants. 



The Compost Heap. In a convenient corner of 

 the garden or allotment a compost heap should be 

 made in which to place vegetable refuse of all kinds, 

 to become rotted down for manure and be returned 

 to the soil at some future time. A good method is 

 to remove to the sides a few inches of the surface 

 soil from a piece of ground some four feet square, 

 and into this small area place all leaves and coarse 

 refuse from exhausted crops. The heap is best kept 

 straight up at the sides and flat on the top, so that 

 it may readily be added to above without encroach- 

 ing on more ground than is necessary. At intervals, 

 after a thick layer of vegetable refuse has accumu- 

 lated on the heap, it should be tramped or beaten 



