28 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



manure. These are most valuable for clays, wliich retam 

 the fertilizing gases and store them up for use. 



Manures deficient in nitrogen, like those of all rumina- 

 ting animals and all kinds of vegetable manures are called 

 cold, and are best fitted for sandy soils, to which they 

 give tenacity and the power of retaining moisture and 

 ammonia. 



The decayed parts rendered soluble of any plant as 

 well as its ashes are among the best manures for plants of 

 its own species. Vineyards have been kept fertile by 

 digging into the soil the fresh prunings of the vines, and 

 indeed, increase in richness from the slight manuring their 

 own leaves afford. So forests are enriched by falling 

 leaves. 



After the oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, are 

 driven off by combustion, the small per centage of ashes 

 remaining is made up of the following substances, viz. 

 chlorine, sulphur, phosphorous, silica or sand, potash, soda 

 lime, magnesia, and oxide of iron, all which in greater or 

 less proportions enter into the composition of our garden 

 crops, and must be supplied if wanting in the soil. Of 

 these, less general, or as they are called special manures^ 

 lime and sulphur are most cheaply supplied by sulphate 

 of lime or gypsum, that being composed of dulphur, oxy- 

 gen and lime. It is a component of turnips, peas, and 

 beans, and if not already in the soil is a useful application 

 to these crops. 



Phosphorous and lime can be supplied by crushed 

 bones, a most valuable manure, composed of phosphate 

 of lime and from thirty-four to fifty per cent, of gelatine, 

 which latter substance rapidly putrifies and becomes 

 available in supplying ammonia. The phosphate of lime 

 is found in wheat, peas, beans, cucumbers, potatoes, garlic, 

 &c., &c. Wood ashes afford the cheapest mode of sup- 



