Artificial Manures 



f 77 ) 



Arum 



as nitrate, with the difference that it may be 

 applied in one spring dressing, and is retained 

 longer in the soil. Nitrate is the better for top- 

 dressing when an immediate result is desired, but 

 the effects of sulphate of ammonia are more 

 lasting. Both these manures are injurious if 

 brought into contact with the foliage of many 

 plants, and care should be taken not to dust them 

 over the leaves when applying to growing crops. 



Though the quantities and proportions of fertil- 

 isers used must be governed by the character of 

 the crop, and also the soil, the following mixtures 

 are good for general purposes. 



Bulbous Vegetables (principally Onions). In 

 addition to farmyard manure, soot, and wood ashes, 

 apply in February a mixture formed of 4 Ib. of 

 superphosphate and 3 Ib. of kainit per square rod, 

 worked into the top spit. Give nitrate of soda or 

 sulphate of ammonia in the spring in two or three 

 top-dressings at the rate of 1 Ib. per rod. 



Greens (Cabbage tribe). These plants are gross 

 feeders, and in addition to animal manure a dressing 

 of 4 Ib. of kainit and 3 Ib. of superphosphate per 

 square rod may be dug into the soil, with top- 

 dressings of nitrate at 1 Ib. per rod. 



Pod -bearing Vegetables (Peas and Beans). 

 Animal manure worked into the subsoil, with 

 superphosphate forked into the surface soil at the 

 rate of 7 Ib. per square rod a few weeks before 

 sowing, is excellent. Another good dressing is 

 composed of 4 Ib. of basic slag or bone meal per 

 rod, incorporated with the subsoil in the winter, 

 with 3 Ib. of kainit and 2 Ib. of sulphate of 

 ammonia per rod applied a few weeks before 

 sowing. 



Tap Boots (Carrots, Parsnips, Beet). Good roots 

 can be grown on land that has been well manured 

 for a previous crop without further feeding, but if 

 plant food is required apply 3 Ib. of superphos- 

 phate, 2 Ib. of kainit, and 1 Ib. of sulphate of 

 ammonia per rod when preparing the ground for 

 sowing. 



Tuberous (Potatoes). A complete manure is 

 the best for Potatoes, and, if the ground is in a 

 fair state of fertility, good crops may be grown 

 with 1 Ib. of superphosphate, 3 Ib. of kainit, and 

 1 Ib. of sulphate of ammonia or nitrate per rod. 

 The first three may be applied in mixture before 

 planting, but nitrate should be used as a top- 

 dressing when earthing. 



Apples, Cherries, Pears, and Plums. Phosphoric 

 acid is the chief food required, potash being bene- 

 ficial on light soils, and applications of nitrogen 

 should be governed by the conditions of growth. 

 On heavy land basic slag and bone meal are good 

 for winter dressings, and superphosphate and kainit 

 or muriate of potash are excellent for spring appli- 

 cations on fairly light land. 



Currants, Gooseberries, and Raspberries. Basic 

 slag and bone meal ure good for winter application 

 on heavy soil, and an excellent general mixture for 

 hoeing into the ground in the spring is 4 Ib. of super- 

 phosphate, 2 Ib. of kainit, anil 1 Ib. of sulphate of 

 ammonia per rod. 



Strawberries. When preparing plantations on 

 heavy soil dig in basic shig at the rate of 8 Ib. per 

 rod. Superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia, 

 5 Ib. of the former and 1 Ib. of the latter, are good 

 for spring dressing on light soil, and the safest 

 way of applying potash is in the form of sulphate 

 of potash at the rate of 2 Ib. per rod. 



Flowers. For top-dressing hardy Hower borders, 

 Koses, annuals, Carnations, and other garden 

 flowers in the spring, 3 Ib. of superphosphate and 

 1 Ib. of sulphate of ammonia per rod are good. 



Lawns. A good winter dressing for improving 

 the appearance of scanty lawns is 3 Ib. of basic 

 slag and 1 Ib. of kainit per rod, followed by a 

 spring application of 3 Ib. of superphosphate and 

 1 Ib. of nitrate or sulphate of ammonia at the 

 same rate. 



ARTOCARPUS. 



Stove evergreen trees (Bread Fruit, ord. Urti- 

 cacese) allied to Antiaris, the Upas Tree. They 

 need plenty of water at all times, with free 

 drainage. Propagated by cuttings of the side 

 shoots ; and by suckers. Soil, two-thirds of good 

 loam and one-third of leaf soil, with sand. 



Principal Species : 

 Cauuoni (see Ficus Can- The fruit is produced 



noni). iu the leaf axils in big 



incisa, true Bread Fruit, spherical heads. 



50'. 



Other Species : 



heterophylla. laciniata. 



integrifolia, Jaca or Jack Tree. metallica. 



ARUM. 



Description. Handsome or singular perennia! 

 plants (ord. Aroidese) suitable for the outdoor 

 garden, or the conservatory and greenhouse. They 

 all bear more or less resemblance in form to the 

 favourite Arum Lily (Richardia africana), but 

 are often singularly coloured. The markings on 

 the leaves of some add much to their interest. 

 The greater number of the plants formerly grown 

 as Arums have been transferred by botanists to 

 other genera, and these will be found under their 

 proper titles. The leading ones thus removed will 

 be found under one or other of the following 

 genera: Alocasia, Amorphophallus, Arisiema, 

 Arisarum, Biarurn, Caladium, Colocasia, Dracun- 

 culus, Helicophyllum, Helicodiceros, Philodendron, 

 Pinellia, Sauromatum, Spathiphyllum, Typhonium, 

 and Xanthosoma. 



Propagation. By division of the roots when 

 they begin to make new growth in spring, or by 

 seeds. Seeds of the tender species ought to be 

 sown in a gentle heat, but those of the hardy 

 plants will germinate either in a cold frame or in 

 the open ground. 



Soil. Arums like a good, rich soil ; where a 

 compost is being prepared for them it may consist 

 of about two parts of good loam and one part of 

 decomposed cow or other animal manure, with 

 the addition of a little rough sand. In the open 

 ground they will flourish in any good garden soil 

 if a little damp but well drained. 



Other Cultural Points. Most of the tender 



Elants now retained in the genus Arum require 

 ttle more than greenhouse temperature, and some 

 do not even need as much heat as is generally main- 

 tained in one in which flowering plants are grown 

 in winter. They must be kept dry and free from 

 frost at that season. They may, however, be 

 started into growth with a temperature of almut 

 60 in spring'. When the growing season is over. 

 water may be gradually withheld, but when in 

 growth they ought to have a full supply. The 

 hardy species need no covering in most plan-. 

 They are best suited for rock gardens, woodlands, 

 or for planting in wild gardens. 



