358 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
is required in the way of manures may be come to, much disappoint- 
ment avoided, and much money saved. In any case it is a far more 
satisfactory way of approaching the question than the haphazard 
method — or lack of method — at present commonly practised. 
Quantities. — The question of the quantities of the various manures 
to be used has purposely been omitted, because it is desired to avoid 
giving any hard-and-fast rules. The correct quantity of any par- 
ticular manure to apply will depend on the soil, the crop, the previous 
manuring, and various other factors ; and this again is a matter that 
the grower should study for himself. 
He is therefore advised to ascertain first from the seller of the 
manure the quantity advised, and then to inquire locally the quantity 
generally found to give the best results. He should then experi- 
ment for himself, and he will generally find that about half as much 
again as is generally advised and used is the most economical applica- 
tion. The only exception to this last statement is to be found in the 
few districts where intensive cultivation is really practised, such as 
Evesham, parts of Kent, Wisbech, &c., where manuring from a 
practical point of view is really understood. 
Let the grower keep in mind that his object should be to feed the 
plant with all it wants at all periods of its growth, so as to promote 
regular, healthy, and continuous growth, leading on to the ultimate 
aim of the plant, namely, the formation of blossom and fruit. 
No check should be allowed ; to every call the plant makes the soil 
should be able to respond ; this is the ideal state of things, and the 
true science of manuring. 
