34 LIQUID MANURES 



well as from the air. Salt is often recommended and used as a 

 manure for Coconuts in Ceylon. BAMBEK considers its application 

 beneficial in some cases, and recommends it for Coconuts at the 

 rate of 1 Ib. per tree. Whatever be the merits of salt as a manure, 

 there seems to be much difficulty in regard to the proper amount 

 to apply. When applied in excess its action is most deleterious, 

 20% in a soil being considered sufficient to render the latter 

 barren. Thus it was customary in ancient times, after the conquest 

 of a hostile town, to u strew salt on the enemy's fields, for the 

 purpose of rendering them barren and unfertile." BAMBEK has 

 found on analyses that the Ceylon rainfall yields from 28 to 112 Ib. 

 of common salt per acre per annum, according to the amount of 

 rainfall and the proximity to the sea. 



LIQUID MANURES 



Although this term is generally considered to imply the 

 drainings of dung heaps, stables, etc., yet almost any manure may 

 be applied to the soil in a liquid state. Manure of this description, 

 though most beneficial to vegetable and other crops, should only be 

 used when the plants are in a healthy state of growth. It can also 

 be profitably applied to composts, so as to induce a more rapid 

 fermentation of their organic matter. It is claimed that liquid 

 manure has a great advantage over solid, being stronger, quicker of 

 action, and capable of being more evenly diffused over the land.. 

 Most of the highly concentrated artificial manures are doubtless 

 best applied in solution, but this is not always practicable. Liquid 

 manure may be made by adding a small portion of some concen- 

 trated fertiliser to a can of water, and applied at once to the plants 

 it is intended to stimulate. This is a ready and clean method of 

 preparing it, but one which requires some caution in guarding; 

 against the dose being too strong. All chemical manures intended 

 for use when dissolved in water should be tried first in a weak 

 solution, and the strength increased gradually if results warrant it. 

 Liquid manures, as already stated, are most effectually employed 

 when the plants are in an active state, yet in want of a stimulant 

 for assisting the development of their crops, or for sustaining their 

 growth. 



Soot or Soot-water. Soot is seldom obtainable in the tropics,, 

 except perhaps at some Up-country bungalows. In countries 

 where it is available, it is considered a valuable manure, as well 

 as an insecticide, being used either in a dry state mixed with 

 other manurial substances, or dissolved in water, the latter 



