350 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
his soil tested for its lime content, as this is a most important factor. 
Simple tests for this are given in the pamphlet on the Cultivation and 
Manuring of the Kitchen Garden, published by the Society, and the 
whole question of the value of lime in horticulture is dealt with in 
vol. xlii. p. 236 of the Journal of the Society. 
In order to show the great variation of different soils in their con- 
tents of the essential ingredients, it is only necessary to glance at the 
table on p. 349, which is compiled from actual analyses of soils from 
different parts of the country. It will be noticed that they are all from 
districts where intensive cultivation is practised. 
Having by this means, and by the practical observations of which 
all growers know the value, carefully studied his soil, the cultivator 
is armed with his first essential knowledge, viz., that of his raw 
material. 
The relation of this knowledge to manuring is obvious. In the 
first place, deficiencies must be made good. Where lime is shown 
to be absent it should be added ; if phosphates, ammonia, or potash, 
are deficient they must be supplied ; where, on the other hand, any 
of them is present in sufficient quantities no more should be given, 
otherwise not only is the value of such application thrown away, 
but harm is done by upsetting the balance of the soil, which is of the 
utmost importance. 
For the purpose of ascertaining whether any of these ingredients 
is present in the proper proportion in any given soil, reference should 
be made to the type analysis at the head of the table, which is that 
of an ideal well-balanced soil to which it will be safe to work. 
The Crop. 
The next point to which attention should be paid is the crop to 
be grown. This also, like the soil, requires careful study. The cul- 
tivator should watch the rooting and growing habits of his crop. If 
deep-rooted he will know that surface cultivation and manuring alone 
are no good. He must trench or subsoil for such crops, and dig in 
lasting manures of an organic nature that will not wash out of the 
soil. Good examples of such crops among those grown in the garden 
are parsnips, beet (especially the long variety), carrots, tomatos, and 
beans ; and among farm crops wheat, mangolds, and beans. Shallow- 
rooted crops, on the other hand, such as peas, onions, lettuce, and most 
of the green crops in the garden, and oats, barley, and turnips on the 
farm, will require soluble or available top-dressings to force them on 
in the growing season, though these too must have sufficient nutriment 
under them to ensure a steady growth. 
Another point to watch is whether the roots spread outwards or 
have a marked downward tendency. Fruit bushes and bush trees 
as a rule spread their roots outwards — they will generally reach as 
far from the stem underground as the branches do above ground — 
manures should therefore be distributed all over the soil under the 
