572 SOLID AND LIQUID MANURES. 



manure, on the other hand, if distributed by either superficial 

 or subterranean channels, reaches plants at a comparative 

 small cost. On the other hand solid manure acts not merely 

 in its capacity of nutriment, but as an effectual means of 

 counteracting the natural tendency of soil to consolidation, a 

 tendency which liquids, repeatedly applied, augment. It 

 "keeps the land open." Moreover, it parts with its nutrient 

 qualities, slowly, giving plants time to absorb them, and not 

 overfeeding them at one time, while at another it starves them. 

 The last-mentioned advantage on the part of solid manure is, 

 however, less than it seems to be, for in consequence of the 

 facility of its application, liquid manuring may be repeated 

 over and over again without difficulty or material expense. 

 Upon the whole it seems to be now generally admitted that 

 when circumstances favour its application on a great scale it is 

 preferable to solid manure ; and that in the finer operations of 

 gardening its superiority, under all circumstances, is incon- 

 testable. 



Cultivators who know nothing of manure except from the action of 

 the solid, and sometimes not very useful, materials produced in farm- 

 yards, cannot believe that half-a-dozen crops of Grass per annum are 

 possible, each heavier than the preceding. Nevertheless, such crops are 

 attained by skilful men, and wUl one day be common. Liquid manure 

 works the wonder ; it operates like the overflow of the Nile or the 

 Indus. Where such periodical floods occur, they soak the land within 

 their reach with the rich ingredients dissolved or suspended in their 

 waters, and this, combined with the high temperature of the land itself, 

 forces on vegetation at a rate unknown with us, except where liquid 

 manure is expeditiously and abundantly administered. That being 

 done we have the heavy and frequent crops of Messrs. Huxtable, 

 Dickinson, Kennedy, Telfer and others. Grass begins to grow ; it is 

 deluged with liquid manure ; on goes the crop, exhausting the land, 

 but rapidly forming an abundant swathe ; it is cut. Instantly after- 

 wards the exhaustion is made good by a new torrent of liquid manure, 

 which restores fertility and something more ; up springs the crop again ; 

 again it yields itself to the scythe, but more abundantly than ever. 

 The process of liquid manuring continues to be repeated with the same 

 results as long as the season permits of growth ; and it may be repeated 

 for ever. What is true of a Grass fleld is equally true of a Cabbage 

 garden, of Celery, Peas, Lettuces, Asparagus, and all kinds of garden 

 stuff, so far as the power of liquid manure in causing exuberant growth 

 is concerned. 



