viii PREFACE 



it is gratifying to know that great strides have 

 been made in the art of manuring during the 

 past few years. 



The author has condensed in the present book a 

 considerable amount of matter on manures, 

 manuring and soils ; and numerous analyses of the 

 ashes of plants are given. They represent twenty- 

 five years' work on the part of the author, his 

 assistants and pupils. Some of these analyses 

 have already appeared in the author's book on 

 " Special Manures," but the majority are now 

 published for the first time. 



It may be stated that the ash and soil analyses 

 and the different special manures mentioned in 

 these pages are the results of many years' 

 investigations and observations in gardens, 

 orchards and laboratories. 



In early days, the author received encourage- 

 ment in this work from the late Sir Richard Owen, 

 K.C.B., F.R.S., the late Prof. M. Berthelot, the 

 late Sir John B. Lawes, Bart., F.E.S., H.H. the 

 late Prince L. L. Bonaparte, the late Dr. J. E. 

 Taylor, Dr. A. C. Maybury, Mr. T. W. Sanders, 

 F.R.H.S., the late Prof. H. A. Nicholson, F.R.S., 



