V 



MANURES 



81 



heavy rains, when the soil is known to be well stored in 

 other respects. Nevertheless, it should be stated that 

 there is some little nitrogen in the rain itself, though 

 not in ordinary water. 



Certain items which are mostly present in very small 

 quantities, soda, silica, and chlorine, are generally disre- 

 garded, as they would be present in sufficient quantities 

 in almost all soils. Silica means flinty particles. It 

 may seem strange to think of these as soluble, yet there 

 is much silica in corn, straw, canes, and tall grass stems, 

 affording the smooth surface, and the brittle sharp 

 nature ; and as Tea Roses are found to succeed in those 

 soils which are gritty, it would be interesting to know 

 if their ashes would show a larger proportion of silica, 

 or whether it is only the extra drainage and consequent 

 heat of the soil that proves favourable to them. 



The very different proportions of the elements found 

 in the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of the Rose must, 

 I think, be very interesting and instructive to enthusi- 

 astic cultivators. Thus nearly one half of the flowers 

 is potash, and a quantity approaching one-third is 

 phosphorus, and as what Ave aim at is flowers, we must 

 take due notice of this, or perhaps we shall have, as we 

 sometimes do, especially where there are taproots going 

 down too deep, strong roots, stems and leaves without 

 buds. But, on the other hand, due regard must be had 

 to the right amount of vigour and strength in all parts 

 of the plant, for Ave do not want it to be breaking imme- 

 diately into little weak flowers all over, even if Ave could 

 manage it. Lime will be noticed as predominant in the 

 roots, more than half in the Avood, and strong in the 

 leaves, but quite low in the flowers : phosphoric acid, 

 though weak in stem and leaves, present to a consider- 

 able amount in roots and blooms : and potash, low in 



