170 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



Bones are largely used by gardeners as manure, 

 and as they contain so large an amount of organic 

 matter and phosphate of lime, it is not difficult to 

 understand their value. The organic portion of 

 hones (cartilage, gelatine) contains nitrogen, and, 

 decomposing in the soil, forms ammonia, and assists 

 in the fertilising action of the phosphate of lime. 

 One of the best forms of nitrogen for manures is 

 that furnished by the organic matter of bones, after 

 having undergone a partial decomposition by acid ; 

 and it is to this fact, . added to the superiority of 

 the phosphates associated with it, that the preference 

 given by gardeners to bone manures is to be at- 

 tributed. These manures may be applied at the rate 

 of about 5 cwts. per acre, and they are particularly 

 useful in the growth of Chrysanthemums, Vines, and 

 plants in pots, owing to the continuous and gradual 

 form in which their constituents are taken up by 

 the roots of plants. 



Ground Phosphates are particularly suited to 

 garden soils rich in humus matter when a slow and 

 constant supply of phosphates and nitrogen is con- 

 sidered desirable, and when the soil is of too open a 

 character to allow of the economical use of the more 

 readily soluble manures. They may be employed 

 for Roses and foliage plants in the form of fine 

 powder. 



Superphosphate forms the basis of many ex- 

 cellent fertilisers sold under the name of " Special 

 Manures," and their value depends entirely upon the 

 amount of available phosphates and of nitrogen 

 present in their composition. 



Two parts of superphosphate by weight to one of 

 potash, applied at the rate of from 3 to 5 cwts. per 

 acre, is a capital manure for Potatoes, Carrots, Beet, 

 and other root crops ; but its value is greatly in- 

 creased by the addition of a small quantity of 

 sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of sodium. 



Either alone or with potash it is recommended for 

 Beans, Peas, and other leguminous plants, whether in 

 pots or in the open garden ; Vines, Peaches, Apricots, 

 and Nectarines are greatly benefited by a dose of 

 this mixture, either dug into the soil around the 

 roots, or dissolved in water at the rate of a quarter- 

 ounce to a gallon of water, and applied in a liquid 

 form. It will be found to be of the more benefit 

 when there is abundance of decomposing organic 

 matter present in the soil. 



Experience has shown that an excellent mixture 

 for Asparagus beds consists of 2 cwts. of superphos- 

 phate, 1 cwt. of nitrate of sodium, and 1 cwt. of com- 

 mon salt per acre, applied as a top-dressing in very 

 early spring, when the beds are made up for the 

 season. . Superphosphate is a valuable manure for all 



green crops, and very useful in the early growth of 

 white Turnips, especially in hastening the young 

 plants beyond the stage when they are attacked by 

 the " fly." 



Sulphate of Ammonia is obtained by the 

 evaporation of " gas liquor," produced in gas works, 

 to which sulphuric acid has been added. It contains 

 about 22 per cent, of ammonia, and is an exceedingly 

 valuable nitrogenous manure. It is seldom used 

 alone, but mixed with bone-dust, rape-dust, wood- 

 ashes, peat-ashes, or superphosphate. 



It may be applied at the rate of from 1 to 2 cwts. 

 per acre, and must be well incorporated with the soil, 

 or used in a weak liquid state. It will be found 

 greatly to benefit Strawberries, Chrysanthemums, and 

 many other plants ; but it must be borne in mind 

 that, though ammoniacal manures produce a marked 

 effect on vegetation, it is necessary that all other 

 requirements of plant-food should exist in the soil in 

 an assimilable condition. 



Nitrate of Sodium is imported in large quan- 

 tities from South America, and is a valuable source 

 of nitrogen to most species of plants. Being easily 

 soluble and liable to be washed out of the soil by 

 rains, this manure should be sown as a top-dressing, 

 at the rate of about 1 cwt. per acre, at that period 

 of the season when the process of plant-growth is 

 the most active. A mixture of nitrate with phos- 

 phates, or in most cases potash and gypsum, is far 

 better than using it alone. 



Potash Salts. — All plants and crops abstract a 

 large amount of potash from the soil, which, how- 

 ever, is in great part returned to the land again in 

 the supply of farmyard dung. The most marked 

 effect of an artificial application of potash is likely 

 to be more apparent on poor sandy soils, naturally 

 deficient in potash, than on good workable clays. 

 The potash manure which merits special attention 

 is " Kainite" The efficacy of this material is 

 specially apparent in the case of Potatoes, Onions, 

 Beet, and root crops growing on fight soils, or on 

 such as are rich in vegetable matter. 



It may be applied with advantage to " stone-fruit" 

 trees, including Vines, and to Roses. 



As a practical proof of the great benefit to be 

 derived from the application of potash and magnesia 

 to the soil, may be mentioned the fact that in the 

 Channel Islands, from whence some 30,000 tons of 

 Potatoes, and large quantities of Cauliflowers and 

 other vegetables, are annually supplied to the London 

 market, hardly any manure is applied except sea- 

 weed, which, as is well knowm, contains potash, 

 magnesia, common salt, and sulphuric acid, which 

 are also the ingredients of kainite. 



