LIQUID MANURE. 573 



In delicate horticultural operations, liquid manure, prepared 

 by steeping dung or other fertilising matter in water, and 

 drawing off the latter when clear, is most generally now ■ 

 employed, and is undoubtedly the best form in which it can be 

 administered, in consequence of its concentration, the facility 

 of its administration in any quantity, and its containing 

 nothing but soluble matter. It was first used by Knight, 

 who not only applied it with much advantage to fruit-trees, 

 but also to Heaths and other flowers ; and it is, with the 

 exception of bone-dust, the form of manure best adapted to all 

 plants in pots. 



Among the many receipts for making liquid manure, the following 

 are the hest : — One gardener recommends, as " a composition which is 

 within everyhody's reach, and which has benefited every plant to which 

 he has applied it, — soot, dissolved, or rather mixed, with rain-water, 

 in the proportion of one tablespoonful of soot to a quart of water for 

 plants in pots, but for Asparagus, Peas, &o., six quarts of soot to a 

 hogshead of water. It must never be applied to plants in a state of 

 rest. It succeeds admirably with bulbs." Another great grower, 

 though writing anonymously, says, " Liquid manure is within the 

 reach of every small gardener who possesses a supply of water and a 

 common watering-pot, or an old barrel. Idle boys are plentiful enough, 

 and will gladly pick off a common a bushel of sheep's dung for a shilling. 

 If this cannot be procured, guano is excellent ; 1 lb. of either to six 

 gallons of water may be applied to the roots of most plants to much 

 advantage. Annuals, Pelargoniums, Verbenas, Calceolarias, and similar 

 ornamental plants are astonishingly improved by a watering twice 

 a- week, especially in dry weather, when these things suffer, and flower 

 in consequence weakly. The culinary department will also repay the 

 cultivator for similar attention. Cauliflowers, Celery, Cabbage, &o., 

 can scarcely have too much liquid manure. Twice every week will do 

 immense service. There is no better prevention of mildew on Peas than 

 this — the crop will be greatly increased by its application, and the 

 quality infinitely raised." Mr. Errington suggests some kinds of urine, 

 combined with good guano in solution, for plants in pots. " I have 

 used this mixture constantly for the last two years, and its effects on 

 many plants is quite astonishing. Sometimes I use that from the cow- 

 house, sometimes horse refuse ; and I am not prepared at present to 

 point out any perceptible difference. I have a reservoir in which these 

 fluids lay to ferment a fortnight ; they are then transferred to another, 

 when I add highly clarified guano-water, made by dissolving the best 

 Peruvian guano, in clear tepid water, after the rate of four ounces to 

 every gallon of the above fluids. My Camellias surprise every one 



