USE OF EXPLOSIVES AND THE BLOW-LAMP IN THE GARDEN, 15 



formed ; and this amount of cultivation was largely sufficient in itself, 

 and undoubtedly masked the full effect of the explosive by loss of 

 power through the loose soil ; thus, whilst the cartridges were placed 

 nominally 3 feet below the surface, in fact they were only 

 about 18 inches deep in firm ground. Nevertheless there are some 

 points of interest to record. As with the potato patch, beyond 

 liming no manure was given, with the exception of liquid manure to 

 the cauhflowers, nitrate to the peas shortly before picking, for flavour ; 

 also, owing to the prevalence of root aphis, a few waterings with 

 sulphocarbonate were given to the carrots. Owing to the prolonged 

 drought, a few soakings with the hose were given as well as surface 

 stirring with the " serfouette," a tool which to my mind is often 

 preferable to the ordinary hoe. 



The cauhflowers and cabbages showed no tangible differences in 

 size or dates of maturation on exploded and non-exploded ground. 

 Actually the largest cauhflower was gathered on the exploded ground, 

 but this is hardly worthy of comment. 



With regard to sown crops (peas, carrots, onions, and scorzonera), 

 the size of the crop was determined by the germination of the seeds, 

 or, perhaps, rather more correctly, by the survival of the seedlings, 

 for the seeds germinated well in general. The rows were planted five 

 yards on either side of the limit dividing the exploded from the non- 

 exploded ground. 



Peas. — ' King Edward.' Only about a dozen plants survived 

 from the first sowing on the unexploded side ; the second sowing came 

 up better. It was noted that both sowings blossomed and matured 

 about a week earlier on the unexploded ground. The same occurred 

 with a few pot-raised sweet peas which were planted out. 



Carrots. — ' Scarlet ' and * Yellow Intermediate.' The germina- 

 tion was so poor on the non-exploded ground that no thinning out 

 was done. Those on the exploded ground were subjected to thinning 

 out and gave 165 pieces as against 130 on the non-exploded. Average 

 weight on exploded ground 3*3 oz., on non-exploded 3*4 oz. — a difference 

 which is probably accountable to the relative sparseness of the plants. 



Onions. — * Sutton's Ai ' and * Ryder's Exhibition.' As with the 

 carrots, the germination was very poor on the non-exploded ground, 

 and no thinning out was done. Those on exploded ground were 

 thinned, and gave 90 pieces as against 70 on the unexploded. The 

 average weights were 2 "51 oz. and 2*55 oz. respectively. 



Scorzonera. — ' Heinemann's One Year.' This was chosen as a good 

 deep-rooted plant, and preferable to the more commonly grown 

 salsify, which, I think, is not worth cultivating. Here the difference 

 in germination was yet more marked, for two rows only gave two 

 plants on the non-exploded, three about the border line, and twelve 

 on the exploded side. Taking those on the border as having been 

 influenced by the subsoiling, the crop was about sevenfold in favour 

 of the explosive. A second late sowing was a failure, no doubt owing 

 to the drought. 



