90 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



Rose are there given in a table from Wolff's Aschen 

 Analysen, Berlin, 1871, 1880, as follows : — 



On reasoning from this to get a proper chemical 

 manure for Boses, the first thing to remember is 

 that there is one most important item not found in 

 ash analysis, and that is nitrogen, for which in a 

 chemical formula the uninitiated must look for the 

 words "nitrate" or "ammonia." Nitrogen is the 

 stimulant which gives life to the whole, like a 

 spark of fire which gives such mighty power to the 

 loaded cannon, or (to use more humble imagery) a 

 penny in the slot which sets the whole elaborated 

 machinery in motion. Mere nitrates, such as 

 nitrate of soda, show immediate and wonderful 

 results on unexhausted land, when all the plant 

 wants is a start ; but it is like drawing a cheque 

 upon a bank, a capital way of supplying the needful 

 as long as the bank is replenished accordingly, 

 but otherwise not a mode of raising money likely 

 to be successful for long ; so the nitrate makes the 

 mineral stores (such as potash and phosphates) 

 available if they be there, but cannot replace them. 



