382 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



in animals. Then potash comes from kainit and other salts 

 dug from the earth. That again helps to make tissue, fruits, 

 and seeds. Nitrogen comes from nitrate of soda, or a salt 

 found in the veins of the earth, sulphate of ammonia, obtained 

 in the making of coal gas, and from soot and other things. This 

 nitrogen specially creates leaves and soft stems. The best way 

 to obtain these manures is to purchase each one in a raw state 

 from the merchants, and mix them to form what is called a 

 complete manure, in this proportion : Phosphate, 4 Ib. ; 

 kainit, 2 Ib. ; and nitrate, 2 Ib. Generally the rule is to 

 mix the two first only, and apply them when soil is dug or 

 forked over in the winter, adding the nitrate after the crop 

 has made some growth, and hoeing it in immediately. 



Liming Soil. During recent years a great deal of attention 

 has been given to applying lime to the soil. It is undoubtedly 

 one of the most important substances for rendering soil fertile. 

 Although it contains but little actual plant food it exerts a 

 chemical action on the soil and vegetable matter contained 

 therein, and releases, or renders soluble, much plant food 

 that would otherwise be lost. If ground is heavily manured 

 with animal manures year after year it becomes what is 

 known as " sick," a condition that is quickly remedied by the 

 application of lime. Generally speaking, lime is best dug into 

 the soil when the latter is free of crops, using freshly slacked 

 lime at the rate of \ bushel to each square rod of ground. 

 Where permanent crops exist the lime should be dug in 

 whilst the plants, trees, or shrubs are at rest. A word of 

 warning is necessary at this juncture. Lime must not be 

 applied to soil in which it is intended to grow Heaths, Rhodo- 

 dendrons, and similar plants that like peaty soil. 



Soot may be beneficially applied to land or crops at almost 

 any time, sufficient to make the surface fairly black being a 

 suitable dressing. 



Liquid Manures. Plants can always utilise liquid manures 

 the moment applied, because the foods are soluble. They 

 are especially valuable for plants in pots or other restricted 

 areas where food is limited. But they are all the same of 

 the greatest benefit when applied to trees, shrubs, roses, 

 fruits, vegetables, and flowers of nearly every description. 

 A pound of guano, soaked in six gallons of water, or a 

 peck of good horse droppings, or fowls' manure, put into a 

 bag, or half a peck of soot, all similarly treated, make good 

 liquid manure. A useful zinc pail with perforated sides 

 is now on the market for holding the manure, which is placed 

 in the tub, and is much cleaner to use than a sack. House 



