30 CHRYSANTHEMUMS 



it gives up its fertilizing qualities gradually. 

 It is often advantageous to add to the com- 

 post one part in four of leaf mould. With 

 the lighter soils this is particularly desirable, 

 not so much because of any addition of 

 nutrient material, but because of its power 

 of retaining water and plant food. 



" Various animal as well as mineral fertil- 

 izers have frequently been added to the com- 

 post, and sometimes even used as substitutes 

 for the stable manure. Guano has thus been 

 used with good results; so have fish manure 

 and dried blood. A very good practice 

 is to add to every cubic yard (twenty bushels) 

 of compost forty pounds of finely ground 

 bone manure, which not only serves as a 

 source of phosphoric acid and lime, but 

 furnishes some nitrogen. Soot also has 

 with advantage been made a part of the 

 compost. This furnishes as much as 3 

 per cent, of nitrogen, chiefly as sulphate 

 of ammonia, as well as small quantities 

 of phosphoric acid and potash. It may be 

 used at the rate of one to five pounds to 

 100 pounds of compost. Should the loam be 

 at all deficient in lime, the deficiency should 

 be corrected by the addition of a few hand- 



