28 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



once. This may be done in many cases by applying such ma- 

 terials to the crop during a hard rain or in a dry time by 

 plowing a furrow near the crop and placing the fertilizer in the 

 furrow. But in any case it should be cultivated into the soil so 

 as to become well mixed through it, and much care must be 

 taken to prevent the dry fertilizer from coming in contact with 

 the roots of the plants. 



Rotating Manures. — It is a good plan to occasionally 

 change the manures applied to land, i. e. when stable manure has 

 been largely used for some years apply some commercial ferti- 

 lizer, lime or land plaster, and when commercial fertilizers have 

 been used for some time recourse should be had to stable 

 manure. 



Liquid Manure. — Liquid manure is sometimes used for en- 

 couraging the growth of plants. It should never be maae from 

 fresh manure, but from that which is thoroughly rotted. Urine 

 may be used as a liquid manure if well decomposed, but it 

 should always be used with great caution and never applied to 

 plants if fresh or undiluted. Cow and horse manure are gener- 

 ally preferred for making liquid manure. The vessel in which 

 it is to be made should be one-third full of manure and filled 

 up with water. The whole should then be stirred and allowed 

 to settle. The clear water is then used for watering plants. 



Liquid fertilizer is also made by dissolving nitrate of soda 

 in water as mentioned under that head. Ammonia is sometimes 

 used in very small quantities in water applied to plants, espe- 

 eially to house plants, with good results. 



QUESTIONS— CHAPTER 11. 



1. What elements are usually lacking in the soil ? 



2. What is the difference between direct and indirect fertilizers? 



3. AVhy are manures from young, growing animals less valuable 

 than from older animals? 



4. What is the heating of manures due to? 



5. To what extent are the different farm manures valuable for 

 farm crops ? 



G. What is the result of mixing alkaline substances with manure? 



7. A\'hat is the result of mixing commercial fertilizers with 

 maniii-es? 



8. TTow should a manure pile be cared for? 



9. What is a compost heap and how made? 



10. AVhat are commercial fertilizers and in what way are they 

 valuable ? 



n. What is tankage? Nitrate of soda? Kaunt? And what ele- 

 ments do Ihpy contain? 



12. A\']iat part of the plant does each of the elements, nitrogen, 

 potash and uhosulu i-oiis affect when in excess in the soil? 



13. AMiat kind of manure should be used for early crops and why? 



14. M'hat kind of manure should be used for late crops and why? 



15. IIow should commercial fertilizers be applied to the land? 

 10, IIow should animal manure be applied to the land? 



