FEEDING AND FERTILIZERS 75 



better color. Phosphatic manures, like superphosphate 

 and bone meal, tend to firm-up the stems and throw the 

 plants into flower, and where seed production is a desidera- 

 tum, reliance can be placed on phosphatic fertilizers. 

 Guano is a quick acting fertilizer, containing a good per- 

 centage of soluble phosphate. For digging into the soil in 

 preparation for the crop, basic slag 6 oz. to 8 oz. per sq. 

 yd., is good. It slowly yields phosphate; but it and bone 

 meal need not be used together. 



Some of the prepared fertilizers are also good and 

 reliable, and their merits must not be overlooked. 



Potash is another of the essential ingredients for a 

 soil for Sweet Peas. Since anthracnose in America, and the 

 " streak " disease in England have been so virulent and 

 destructive, much attention has been directed to the 

 value of potash. It is claimed for it that it braces the 

 energies or system of the plant against diseases. It assists 

 the formation of starch, which is the first material that 

 the leaves elaborate. Its effect, therefore, is to cause a 

 fleshy, thickened, well-balanced growth. Kainit, procur- 

 able from wholesale dealers in fertilizers, contains 12 per 

 cent, of potash; while as a usually readily proem able local 

 supply, wood ashes can be used; they contain a fair pro- 

 portion of carbonate of potash. Heavy soils and clays 

 have the highest proportion of available potash; so much, 

 indeed, that there are good cultivators who never think of 

 supplying potassic manures to them. 



Where one has to deal with heavy soils, quicklime 

 should be freely used. It greatly helps to break it up or 

 at least make it less adhesive. On the other hand, it helps 

 to make a loose soil firm, contradictory though it may 

 seem. Quicklime tends to sweeten soils that have become 

 over-rich, like highly fed garden soils; and to correct acidity 



