19fi 
grow vigorously ; but the c[uick appi oach of summer daily inter- 
feres with the force of this kind of vegetation, and diminishes 
the effects of the manure. On the contrary, if October is the 
season chosen for the operation, the grasses are then beginning 
to grow steadily, the operations of the mower are, or should 
be, suspended, and there are seven clear months at least during 
which the effects of the manure continue to be felt. It may be 
indifferent at what season such manures as bones, and other 
kinds of matter which decompose very slowly, are employed; 
yet there can be no doubt that upon every known principle 
they also should be given at a time when vegetation is most 
active; hence the every-day practice of digging manure into 
the borders of a garden in spring, or shortly before an annual 
crop is about to be committed to the soil. As to the manner 
of applying manure, it must be obvious that it can be of no use 
unless it is in contact with the absorbing parts of the roots ; 
now those parts are the young fibres and spongioles, and, when 
plants have arrived at any considerable size, the roots form the 
radii of a circle whose circumference is the principal line of 
absorption. This being so, if a plant has arrived at the state 
of a bush or tree, it is useless to apply manure to the base of 
the stem, because that is precisely where the power of absorp- 
tion is the weakest, if it e.xists at all ; and as the circle formed 
by the roots is generally greater than that of the branches, the 
proper manner of applying manure is, to introduce it into the 
ground at a distance from the stem about equal to tlie radius 
formed by the branches. And yet, although this is so evi- 
dently right, I have seen a gardener, who ought to have known 
much better, sedulously administering liquid manure, by pour- 
ing it into the soil at the base of the stem ; which is much the 
same thing as if an attempt were made to feed a man through 
the soles of his feet.” 
192 Nitrate of Soda. In accordance with our previous re- 
marks, we copy the following fact communicated by a corres- 
pondent to the Gardener’s Chronicle, (May 15, 1841). “In the 
beginning of June, 1840, I planted a piece of ground with 
Dahlias, the soil of which was very poor and light; in August 
they flowered freely, but small, and open in the centre when 
full blown. I then dissolved 11b. nitrate of soda, in 12 gallons 
of soft water, and applied it liberally all over the soil with a 
