328 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, August 25, 1857. 
in this way than when done in moist weather; for the 
ground being dry gets no harm from the treading it 
receives, and there being some fine, dusty earth at top 
to run in the dibber hole, the plant is put more firmly 
in its place than it often is in damp weather. A little 
watering at the time of planting is absolutely necessary, 
but need seldom be repeated, and the other rows being 
all treated the same, the work is not so laborious as 
might be expected, and it is always preferable to plant 
when ready than wait for showery weather on such stiff 
ground; for it is not unlikely that slugs and other 
enemies may abound in such numbers as to be very 
destructive to newly-planted Cauliflowers, Broccoli, 
Savoys, and other tender things, and I have often pre¬ 
ferred planting in dry weather to doing so when wet on 
that account. 
The sowing of seeds on such a soil is attended with a 
little more trouble, and it is needless to say that on an 
extensive scale it could not well be done ; but for small 
beds of seedlings, as Lettuce, Endive, Cauliflower, and 
the like, something must be done. The ground must be 
well beaten as above until the surface clods are reduced 
into a sort of dust, when the seed may be sown, and the 
ground well watered, reserving some dry dust to throw 
over the beds when they have become a little dried at 
top, not caked hard; for, be it observed, the covering of 
the beds with dry dust is to prevent that hardening at 
top which invariably occurs after watering in dry, hot 
weather, and if a little shading of any kind can be had 
so much the better, as a covering or partial covering 
with boughs, or anything that will prevent the direct 
rays of the sun acting on the ground, will prevent its 
getting so hard and “ cake-burnt” at top as it generally 
does when often watered in dry weather. But a better 
remedy is to cover the beds with leafy mould if it can 
be had; its lightness prevents its caking hard, and it is 
useful in other ways as well. But the suburban amateur 
will be more easily supplied with road dust, and if that 
has a quantity of horse droppings ground into it, and is 
used rather liberally, it will be of great service. 
A dry sand or hungry gravel is a much worse soil to 
manage, though more agreeable to work; but the result 
is seldom so satisfactory unless in wet seasons or wet 
neighbourhoods. In very dry seasons the difficulty is 
more in maintaining a healthy growth than in obtain¬ 
ing the germination of the seed or the start of the 
plants, as in stiff soils; for in the latter the growth is 
almost certain if it can only be once set agoing, whereas 
in dry, hungry sands or gravels a half-starved growth 
is the result, Lettuces running to seed, Cabbages and 
everything else of that kind with leaves a sort of sickly 
blue, and, in fact, all vegetation suffering in like manner. 
Copious waterings are the only restoratives; but when 
really good vegetables are wanted some manure must 
also be used with the water at times, otherwise all the 
enriching matter in the ground will be washed out, and 
the plant, though not suffering from drought, will be 
nevertheless destitute of that useful kind of food which 
produces a good result. 
In dry, hot weather some good will result from cover¬ 
ing all the intervening ground with some non-conducting 
material. Short lawn grass is very well in its way. 
Tree leaves more or less decayed are also good, and tan 
is occasionally used for this purpose; but never use 
this fresh from the tan-yard without first ascertaining, 
by some trial on a piece of waste grass or other place, if 
it be wholesome, for some of the tan of late has been 
saturated with a liquid so hurtful to vegetation that I 
have cautioned the inexperienced against using it until 
proved to be innoxious. I suppose it is the different 
process of tanning which has altered the character of 
the bark. Somo of it cannot even be induced to heat 
without so much trouble, that I would not advise it as a 
substance to retain the moisture in the ground if short 
grass, leaves, or any other farmyard rubbish can be had 
instead; for, be it observed, that appearance in this 
instance must give place to utility. The wants of a 
future time and the quality of those articles ought to be 
considered in preference to all other things. 
J. Robson. 
VARIOUS LIQUID MANURES. 
(Continued from page 242.) 
2. Sulphate of Ammonia. —One pound made soluble in 
water sufficient to cover it, and afterwards diluted with 
thirty-two gallons of rain water, in which two quarts of soot 
and one quart of singe dust (£.<?., the matter that falls from 
worsted fabrics when passing quickly over an iron plate 
heated red hot previously to being dyed)* have been steep¬ 
ing for a few days, make a very stimulating liquid, which 
is particularly adapted for cold, heavy soils. It ought not 
to be applied during the day if the sky be clear, as it is 
liable to scorch the leaves of the plants. 
Its effects on the root crops to which I have given it 
have been rapid and striking. Onions and Shallots never 
present that yellow appearance to which they are too fre¬ 
quently subject during the latter part of May and June. 
The tops are always full of sap and of a lively green colour, 
and the bulb ancl stem enlarge rapidly until within two 
or three weeks of the time they are ready for being taken 
up, at which time the green parts cease to elaborate the 
juices necessary to carry on a vigorous growth, dry down, 
and leave the bulb in a proper state for being kept through¬ 
out the winter. These remarks apply with equal force to 
the Leek, with this exception, viz., that it continues to 
enlarge through the whole of the growing season, and 
remains particularly crisp and tender even when inactive and 
stored for the use of the table in winter. German Stocks 
and Asters, Ageratmn grandiflorum , Lobelia hirsuta, &c., 
NierembergiaJilicaulis , Pentstemon gentianoides, Salvia fulgens, 
&c., when bedded out appreciate the use of it, and more 
than repay for the extra trouble required in applying it; 
but in using it the nozle of the tube attached to the watering- 
pot should be carefully introduced between the plants, so 
that the liquid in passing out of the pot does not fall upon 
the foliage before it reaches the surface of the bed. 
3. Calcined Bones, or bones dissolved in three times 
their weight of sulphuric acid, and mixed with one-fourth 
their weight of lime, pounded charcoal, and soot in equal 
quantities, form a compound, when diluted with water in 
the proportion of eight gallons to one gill of the mixture, 
that can scarcely be too highly valued as a manure for 
general purposes; but, like No. 2, it ought not to be allowed 
to fall upon the leaves, especially of plants under pot culture. 
Its influence on the foliage of plants growing in the open 
air, and whose roots are not circumscribed by pots, &c., varies. 
For instance, the tops of Salsafy, Onions, and the like do 
not suffer through its effects, so far as my experience goes ; 
while the leaves of Parsley, Endive, Potatoes, Lettuces, &c., 
appear in the course of twenty-four hours after its applica¬ 
tion as though they had been burnt with fire, although, 
when it is applied to the roots without coming in contact 
with the foliage, the plants luxuriate amazingly. 
Apple and Pear trees enjoy the free use of it. The bark 
which covers the stem and boughs of the tree to which it has 
been given always looks healthy and free, thus indicating 
that those minute vessels whose office it is to secrete and 
circulate the sap required to bring the tree to perfection are 
in a proper state to perform the various offices that nature 
has designed for them. The ultimate result is the perfect 
development of the parts of fructification and an abundant 
crop of well-flavoured fruit. 
When given to the Currant and Gooseberry bush its 
effects in a short time become pleasingly evident, especially 
when they are pruned according to the excellent rules which 
have been laid before the readers of The Cottage Gardener 
by Messrs. Errington and Appleby, at pages 72 and 91, Vol. 
XVII.. and which have obtained since their publication the 
title of a new system, but which, by the by, is older than my 
* Three quarts of soot, without the Binge dust, which can only be had 
in the woollen manufacturing districts, would do as well.—E d. C. G. 
