376 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Vegetable crops usually make still heavier draughts on the potash stores of 

 the soil than fruit crops. In carrots, mangolds or turnips, for instance, we remove 

 over loo pounds of potash per acre, if the crop be simply a fair one, and perhaps 

 over 200 pounds, if it be a heavy one. This loss, of course, is usually made up 

 by heavy dressings of yard manure, every ton of which returns to the soil about 

 ten pounds of potash. This calls for applications of at least from fifteen to 

 twenty tons of such manure per acre for every crop, and for larger ones, where 

 very large yields are obtained or aimed at. In every event, yard manure will 

 be found a most excellent fertilizer for these crops, and one of the best means to 

 maintain the balance of soil fertility. 



The query now comes up, what to do in case that yard manure is not avail- 

 able ? Perhaps the grower, following the advice given by expert gardeners, has 

 used bone flour, or other phosphates, for some time as a substitute for yard 

 manure. He may have been very liberal in his applications, using a ton or more 

 per acre ; yet in all this dressing he has not furnished a single pound of the pot- 

 ash so urgently needed, only a large quantity of phosphoric acid, for which his 

 crops has little use. Consequently the crops must soon suffer for the want of 

 potash, and perhaps of nitrogen. 



Having made the correct soil diagnosis again, the proper treatment is easily 

 prescribed. Apply potash, and perhaps some quickly available nitrogen. My 

 rations, in such case, would be about as follows, per acre, viz. : 



1. 50 to 100 bushels of unleached ashes. 

 200 to 400 pounds of nitrate of soda. 



The phosphoric acid, contained in the ashes, would do no harm, and in some 

 cases may be needed. 



2. 200 to 300 pounds of sulphate or muriate of potash. 

 200 to 400 pounds of nitrate of soda. 



Cotton seed hull ashes, corn-cob ashes, composts of tobacco refuse, with other 

 substances, can also be used to good advantage for the purpose of furnishing the 

 needed potash. — From Practical Farm Chemistry, by T. Greiner, La Salle, N.Y. 



The Forsythia is not generally planted where it may be seen to the best 

 advantage. Some years ago we saw one planted on a rather steep hillside or 

 slope, and was strongly impressed with the suitableness of the position. Whether 

 looked at from the little valley below or from the bridge above, the effect was 

 charming. Here was a position for a full development of the natural habit of 

 the plant, and the graceful curves of the long, slender branches that swept the 

 green turf as they were gently swayed by the wind, produced a delightful impres- 

 sion that has yet lost none of its freshness. It is not often that a position of 

 this kind presents itsdf, but when it does it should be utilized. 



