Liquid Manuring 



lime. This can be discovered only by careful 

 chemical analysis, and is remedied by redressing the 

 balance by the addition of lime. 



Of the evil resulting from the presence of various 

 poisonous metals in the soil we need not write 

 except to warn against the addition of too much 

 borax (which has been recommended as an antidote 

 for flies and which does little harm when only small 

 quantities are used), and against the possible danger 

 of the too free use of arsenical poisons, which has 

 been reported to have resulted in considerable harm 

 in some parts of America. 



Before dismissing this matter the use of too strong 

 solutions of fertilisers as liquid manure should be 

 mentioned. One ounce of a fertiliser dissolved in 

 a gallon of water is amply strong enough, and half 

 an ounce is usually better. If the solution of earth- 

 salts in the soil becomes stronger than usual the 

 plants have difficulty in absorbing water, and may 

 actually wilt on account of it, and harm rather than 

 good results from the application. Acting on the 

 fallacious reasoning that if a Httle does good, more 

 will do better, amateurs not infrequently cause 

 considerable damage by using too much fertiliser 

 in an excess of zeal and a laudable desire to excel. 

 Plants with delicate foliage suffer most, spots 

 similar to those produced by burning appearing on 

 the leaves, but even more robust plants are apt to 

 drop many of their leaves. The difficulty of absorb- 



34 



