CHAPTER XXIII 



FEKTILIZEKS 



WHEN a child has a garden, he wants a good 

 one, and there is nothing more important to a 

 garden than a good fertile soil. It should con- 

 tain those elements which are found in plants 

 and in such a form as to be available. When the 

 soil is exhausted of these elements the deficiency 

 must be supplied by an application of fertilizers. 

 Potash, nitrogen and phosphoric acid exist in 

 large amounts in plant-tissues and are most 

 liable to be exhausted from the soil. Manures or 

 fertilizers are applied to the soil for the purpose 

 of increasing fertility; this is largely accom- 

 plished by supplying nitrogen ; potash and phos- 

 phoric acid. There are two kinds of manures 

 farm-yard manure or other natural products 

 and commercial fertilizers; their functions are 

 twofold ; they supply elements of plant-food and 

 ameliorate the physical conditions of the soil. 

 Clay and compact soils are made more open and 

 porous by the application of natural manures; 

 they admit air and water to direct contact with 

 the dormant plant-food, which being acted upon, 



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