12 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
April 1, 1997 
en! 
Manure FRoM ONE Cow 
It is estimated that one cow will produce 
fourteen tons of manure in a year, in- 
cluding the bedding, and that the cost of 
the manure will be about 4s. a ton. Its 
value, however, depends upon the kind 
of food from which it is produced. Manure 
is never the same quality, The moment 
it begins to ferment no matter how it is 
kept, it gives off a portion ofits substance 
(ammonia) in a gaseous form, but this gas 
may be largely prevented from escaping 
by the use of absorbents, day earth, water 
or acids. ‘he fermentation of manure in 
the soilis both chemical and mechanical 
in its ection on the soil itself. It tends 
to decompose the insoluble matter, being 
a disintegrating agent by reason of the 
fact that decomposition of manure inthe 
soil induces and hastens chemical reaction 
of the insoluble substances. 
Can you get cow or pig manure? If you 
can, then do so by all means. Both are 
splendid fertilisers for a flower garden, 
there being little heat in either of them, 
there is no fear of harm being done when 
they are being dug into the soil between 
growing plants. No manure—let it be cow 
or pig. horse or sheep or fowl—should be 
dug into the soiiin a fresh state. It is 
better to stack it in some protected place, 
and only use it after it has been in the 
heap some months. Many gardeners 
have their manure arranged in three heaps 
The fresh manure is placed in one; this, 
after a month, is turned on to heap No. 2 
where it is allowed to lie two or three 
months, and is then turned on to No, 3— 
the heap from which it is used. 
Sueze Manvee, 
The manure from sheep is worth more 
than that derived from any other animal ; 
‘next to that from the hog, and then from 
‘the horse, manures from cattle being less 
valuable than that from other animals. 
But in quantity produced cattle come first 
‘then horses, next hogs, with sheep last. 
The value of manure does not depend 
-altogether upon the animal producing it, 
however, as the character of the food 
consumed largely influences the manure, 
and even the manure from the same animal 
varies in quality and quantit3 daily. 
Sheep manure, which is particularly 
rich in nitrogen, is rather difficult to get, 
-and consequently expensive, but should 
you have a chance of getting a load at a 
reasonable price (say, 6s. or 7s), seize it, - 
especially if you are a carnation grower. 
This manure is one of the very best for 
the dainthus tribe, and may be used by 
covering the surface of the bed to the 
depth of one inch, and lightly forking 
it in. 
Fown Manure. 
The excrements of fowls, and with 
‘them may be included pigeons, ducks and 
geese, do not form a rich manure, and are 
not to be compared for fertilising value to 
the genuine Peruvian guano derived from 
birds living on fish, 
According to Dr. Aikman, fowl excre- 
ments yield from 0:8 to 2 per cent. of 
nitrogen 3 to 2 per cent. of phosphoric 
acid, and less than I per cent. of potash 
The quality is very variable. Accord- 
ing to series of recent analyses it may 
contain from— 
5 to 20 per cent of sand 
50... 75 water 
0d ... 25 organic matter 
06 4 nitrogen 
05 22 phosphoric acid 
05 1 potash 
4 fowl produces about 12 lb, in a year 
As a means of preservation and prepar- 
ation of the manure, it isa good plan to 
spread on the heap a little gypsum, or, 
better still, kainit,as the latter, besides 
helping to retain the ammonia, furnishes 
a proportion. of potash; and if a little 
sulperphosphate is alsoadded, the mixture 
would form a useful complete manure of a 
nitrogenous character. 
Fowl droppings are a yery valuable 
manure, but, owing to its heat, must be 
used with caution, especially amongst 
young and tender things. Its value is 
considerably increased by being dried in 
the sun. after which it is best stored in 
large boxes and kept in a dry place. 
Nowadays almost everyone keeps a few 
fowls, and by careful collecting and storing 
of their manure an appreciable increase 
in the profit accruing from them may be 
made. 
SraBLE MANURE 
Stable manure should be kept long 
enough in the heap to enable all straw to 
become rotted, unless the soil be of a 
heavy clayey sort, when it wonld be bene- 
fited by digging it in quite fresh. A layer 
three inches thick spread over the surface 
and turned under would not be too much 
in such ground. 
Of chemical and artificial manures 
suitable for the flower garden, may be 
mentioned (a) sulphate of ammonia; (b) 
superphosphate ; (c) basic slag or phos- 
phate. 
The first of these—sulphate of am- 
monia—is a powerful nitrogenous manure 
and can be applied to beds during the 
early autumn or spring, at. the rate of 
one pound of manure to twenty square 
yards. Before sowing it, break up all the 
lumps small enough to pass through an 
one-eighth inch mesh sieve. Sow thinly 
and evenly, carefully avoiding letting any 
fall upon the foliage of plants, as they are 
likely to be burnt with it. 
SULPHATE or AMMONIA 
makes a splendid liquid manure for cine- 
‘rarias pelargoniums, etc. A tablespoonful 
in a gallon of water is quite strong enough 
It is better to err on the side of giving it 
too weak than that of giving it too strong 
Liquip MANURE. 
In giving liquid manure of any kind, 
there are two rules that must be kept in 
mind—(1) only give it to healthy growing 
plants: (2) Water first with clean water. 
SUPEKPHUOSPHATE 
may be applied at the same time as the 
sulphate of ammonia, the two being 
thoroughly nixed and sown together: 4 
lb. of sulphate of ammonia on twenty 
square yards of surface is a safe quantity 
to use. 
For Rosgs. 
This fertiliser is a splendid one for 
rose beds. Basic slag or Thomas’ phos- 
phate will be of small value unless broken 
and ground very small. When preparing 
new gardens, digging holes for trees, 
renovating borders, a sprinkling of basic 
slag on the lower spit dues good. 
W. H. Coats & Son 
EFruitgrowers 
And Wholesa e Exporters, 
East End Market. Adelaide 
EXPORTERS «nd Importers of 
Fresh Fruit 
Agents for Renmark Fruits and Dried 
Fruits 
Also for Terry’s Jams and Preserves. 
Fresh. Fruit and Vegetables 
packed and forwarded to all 
parts of the State at lowest 
rates from our own garden 
Ironbank. 7 
Look ! 
Seeds for Present Planting 
FLOWER SEEDS— 
Asters, Zinnia, Portulaca, Sunflowers, 
Cosmos, Phlox, Gomphrena, etc. 
From 3d per pkt.; plants, 4d per doz. 
VEGETABLE SEEDS— 
Trombone Cucumber, Vegetable Marrow 
Pumpin Capsicum, Cape Gooseberry 
Water Melon, Sweet Melon, etc. 
From 3d per pkt.: plants 6d per pot. 
AGRICULTURAL SEEDS— 
sorghum, Amber Cane, Planter’s Friend 
lucerne (varieties). ? 
Write for samples and prices, All seeds post frees 
peas and beans excepted, 
Chick Meal, 1s 3d per doz. 
All Poultry Requisites. 
Green Bone, 6d per pkt. Roup Pills, Excelsior Spice, 
tC. 
- Plants of all descriptions. | Wreaths, Crosses, Pre- 
sentation Bougets. bridal Suites a speciallty, 
HEYNE, POTTER & CO., 
Seedsmen, Nurserymen and 
Florists, 
17 RUNDLE ST., Adelaide. 
Phone 1076 
