36 PIOTOBIAL PEAGTICAL VEGETABLE GROWING. 



experimenting I have come to the conclusion that all others may be 

 dispensed with. It is troublesome to stock many kinds. Taking one 

 year with another, these fertilisers cost me ten shillings per hundred- 

 weight. The average quantity used (generally in conjunction with 

 other fertilisers) is Ih lb. per square rod. 



Phosphatic Fertilisers. — The most generally useful all-round 

 manure in this section is superphosphate of lime ; average price per 

 hundredweight, five shillings ; average quantity per square rod, 3 to 

 4 lb. Steamed bone flour is valuable to use in conjunction with 

 superphosphate, for the reason that sulphuric acid is used in the 

 manufacture of superphosphate, and at times a modicum of free acid 

 is left, which acts injuriously, unless absorbed by a little bone flour. 

 Steamed bone flour is insoluble in water, and therefore it cannot be 

 turned to account, as superphosphate can be, for liquid manure : more- 

 over, owing to the very fine state to which it is reduced, it requires 

 to be handled with great care, otherwise clouds of disagreeable dust 

 will arise ; but it is quick-acting, and altogether an exceedingly valu- 

 able manure. The average price is six to seven shillings per hundred- 

 weight, and the average quantity to use per rod (in conjunction with 

 other manures) is 1 lb. Basic slag is another phosphatic manure 

 which may be mentioned. It is not so valuable as superphosphate 

 for most vegetables, and being rather slower in its action requires to 

 be applied earlier, but it is very good for Grass. Average price, three 

 to four shillings per hundredweight. Average quantity to apply, 

 4 lb. per square rod. 



Potash Fertilisers. — The most common of these is kainit ; 

 average price, three to four shillings per hundredweight ; average 

 Ciuantity to use, 2 to 3 lb. per square rod. It is a good fertiliser. 

 Sulphate of potash and muriate of potash ; average price of each, 

 seven to nine shillings per hundredweight ; average quantity, 1^ lb. 

 per square rod ; are both much superior to kainit, the former for 

 vegetables, the latter for fruit, but they are not so easy to get. 



There are several other fertilisers besides those mentioned, and 

 perhaps the best of them is nitrate of potash (saltpetre). It is, how- 

 ever, expensive, often costing fifteen to eighteen shillings per 

 hundredweight. A large quantity is not required, li lb. per squaie 

 rod sufficing. Like superphosphate, it is valuable for making liquid 

 manure. Half an ounce of each to 2 gallons of water will make a 

 good fertiliser for most things. 



With the fertilisers here named, any vegetable grower who knows 

 how to till his soil, and is not afraid to do it, may grow good crops 

 of all vegetables ; indeed, he may do exceedingly well with four 

 only, namely superphosphate, kainit, steamed bone flour, and nitrate 

 of soda. The prices quoted are the prices I have myself paid for 

 hundredweights and half-hundredweights. The quantities advised 

 arc those which I have found to be the best in a fairly considerable 

 practical experience. 



Speaking broadly, they are best applied two or three months prior 

 to cropping. In the case of Potatoes and green vegetables, 1 have 



