PROPERTIES OF MANURES 245 



the aid of manganese sulphate ; and by using a 

 liquid manure, containing a quarter of an ounce of 

 manganese sulphate to two gallons of water, the 

 flowers were greatly improved in shape and vitality 

 — and when cut they lasted longer than flowers 

 grown without this manure. The liquid manure 

 was applied twice a week, from May to September. 

 The composition of the soil was the same in each 

 case, and the same amount of moisture, heat, light, 

 etc., were received by each shrub. 



Iron Sulphate is largely used as an ingredient 

 in special manures for fruit trees and flowers. It 

 produces healthy growth, and is indispensable to 

 the development of green leaves. 



Iron sulphate has the following properties : (1) 

 It is a direct and an indirect plant-food. (2) It 

 retains ammonia and phosphoric acid in soUs, and 

 it aids nitrification. (3) Under certain conditions 

 iron sulphate (green vitriol) decomposes water in 

 the soU, liberating nascent hydrogen. This hydro- 

 gen combines with the nitrogen of the air (present 

 in the interstices of the soil), forming ammonia. 

 (4) Nitric acid is retained in soUs by iron. (5) In 

 the .case of those plants which develop a large 

 amount of chlorophyll, iron sulphate is most 

 beneficial. (6) It has been proved that when an 

 " iron sulphate solution is injected into the sap of 



