76 PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS 



advisable to obtain a warranty as to the amount of available nitrogen, 

 (or ammonia), phosphates, and potash contained in them. 



Fish Guano. — This is the dried and pov^dered refuse from cod and 

 herring and other fish factories, and may be regarded as containing a 

 fair amount of nitrogen and phosphoric acid. According to the kind 

 of fish used, this guano may contain from 7 to 14 per cent, of nitrogen 

 in the form of ammonia ; 13-30 per cent, of phosphate of lime ; and 

 only 2-3 per cent, of potash. To be of much value as a fertiliser the 

 oily matters should have been extracted as far as possible, as the 

 presence of oil retards the action of the manure and gives unsatisfactory 

 results. The action of Fish Guano is somewhat similar to that of 

 Peruvian Guano, but it may be used a little more freely, say about 

 2-10 cwts. per acre, or at the rate of 1-4 ozs. to the square yard. 



The above are the principal manures in use, but in various seaside 

 localities seaweed is much valued, chiefly owing to the potash salts 

 contained in it. A ton of fresh seaweed contains about 10 lbs. of 

 nitrogen, 10 lbs. of phosphoric acid, 80-45 lbs. of potash, and about 

 60 lbs. of common salt. It may be turned over several times in a heap 

 and allowed to decompose like ordinary farmyard manure, and in this 

 state may be dug into the soil in the same way. 



Old rags, rapecake dust, meat refuse, horn shavings and almost any 

 vegetable remains free from fungus diseases may also be used for 

 manuring the soil. . 



Coal ashes, which are often recommended in ignorance, should 

 never be applied to any decent soil, as they do more harm than good. 

 If used at all, it should be only to make sticky clayey soil more 

 porous. 



