fiiipplement  to 
^r.'lrc^l  10,  1904. 
OF  IIOnriaULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
211 
XiTHATK  OF  Soi).\  is  uii  oxct'pd  iiigly  Jictivc  iiitiogoiious 
inamire,  sn])jjlyiiig  ])lant  food  of  tlio  most  coiiceiitraled  and 
dii’ect  liiiul,  its  action  is  hotli  ftaaling  and  stimulating. 
average  p(nccntag('  of  nitrogen  in  nitrate  of  soda  is  fiom 
15  to  1()  j)er  cent.  'Pliis  snhstance  is  probably  mor<'  gt'innally 
nsed  for  borticnltuial  ])nrposes  tlnin  any  otlier  material  exce])t 
larmyai’d  manure,  as  a  carrier  of  nitrogen  to  vegetation.  It 
snpi)Iie,s  no  potash,  nor  pbosplioric  acid;  consequently,  for 
nitrate  ot  soda  to  j)rodnce  its  full  eff(>cts  eitlu'r  the  soil  must  be 
in  good  condition,  maintained  by  a  plentiful  use  of  dung,  or 
an  artificial  mineral  supply  must  be  supplemented. 
As  a  rnie,  it  lias  been  found  tliat  horticultural  crojis  which 
require  the  most  labour  per  acre  are  those  which  yield  the 
highest  jirofits  from  the  use  of  nitrate  of  soda,  that  is  to  say, 
early  crops  of  vegetables,  or  those  produced  “  out  of  season.” 
'I'hns  10011)  of  nitrate  of  soda  will  furnish  more  nitrogen  to 
plants  early  in  the  spring  than  can  be  got  from  eight  to  ten 
tons  of  farmyard  dung.  Nitrate  of  soda  can  be  mixed  with 
potash  and  phosphatic  manures  as  reipiired. 
IJrif.d  IIlood.  —  One  of  the  child  ])roducts  from  vhich 
organic  nitrogen  is  derived  for  commercial  fertilisers  is  dried 
blood.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
important,  because  one  of  the 
most  concentrated  and  richest 
in  nitrogen  of  the  organic 
nitrogenous  manures,  and  it  is 
one  of  the  best,  since  its 
physical  character  is  snch  as  to 
permit  of  its  very  rapid  decay 
in  the  soil  during  the  actual 
growing  season  of  plants.  Red 
blood,  which  commands  the 
highest  price,  is  reasonably 
uniform  in  composition.  It 
contains  from  1;1  to  14  per  cent, 
of  nitrogen,  and  traces  of  jihos- 
phoric  acid.  The  black  dried 
blood  is  of  a  lower  grade,  and 
may  range  in  nitrogen  from 
G  to  12  per  cent.  ;  it  also  con¬ 
tains  considerable  phosphoric 
acid,  frequently  as  high  as 
4  per  cent.  This  manure  can 
be  used  successfully  to  most 
crops  that  require  a  steady 
supply  of  plant  food,  such  as 
V'ines,  Roses,  Chrysanthemums, 
Potatoes,  Celery,  and  the  like. 
Fish  Guano. — Dried  ground 
fish  contains  from  7  to  8  per 
cent,  of  nitrogen,  and  from 
G  to  8  per  cent  of  phosphoric 
acid.  It  can  be  nsed  with  ad¬ 
vantage  for  pot  plant  culture, 
flowers.  Onions,  Carrots,  &c. 
Horn  and  Hoof  Me.al. — 
Another  source  of  nitrogen  is 
the  dried  and  ground  trimmings 
of  animal  horns  and  hoofs. 
The  nitrogen  in  this  material  is 
likely  to  lie  slower  in  its  action 
than  that  of  ammonia  or 
nitrate,  or  even  dried  blood. 
It  is  a  lasting  manure,  giving 
up  its  nitrogen  slowly,  being 
well  adapted  for  Vine  and  fruit 
culture,  including  Tomatoes  and 
^lelons. 
Phosphatic  Manures. 
Several  vaiieties  are  on  the 
market,  including  bonenuud, 
crushed  bones,  snperphosphat(vs, 
basic  slag,  cVrc.'  Rones  are  true 
pbosi)liatic  manures,  although 
they  contain  a  small  propoition 
of  nitrogini.  I'he  coniposition 
may  lange  from  2  to  5  pm'  emit, 
of  ammonia,  and  from  20  to  25 
per  cent,  of  jihosiihoric  acid. 
The  tri'atment  of  bone  witli 
acid  reduces  the  percentages  of 
ammonia  and  phospliates,  but 
makes  the  latter  more  (piickly 
and  com])letely  availabh',  de- 
(om))osing  very  I'apidly  in  the 
soil ;  it  is  specially  suitable 
when  (‘ally  v(‘g(‘table  growth  is 
r(‘((uired. 
Aliin'ial  snperi)hosi)hate  is  thi‘ 
cheap.'’.st  source  of  soluble 
])bosphate  ;  tin*  ordinary  (piality 
contains  from  25  to  28  jk'i' 
Su])(‘rphosphate,  however,  is 
cent,  of  phos])bat(‘ 
fri'ipimitly  maib' 
])hos|)hati 
the  gardt'ii 
'I'll is  acid  ( 
diseases 
mad(‘  soluble, 
containing  as 
;  thes(‘  are  to 
,  as  they  ai'i‘ 
lenu'nt  tends 
old,  rich 
much  a.s  .‘15  to  -10  jxn-  cent,  of  soluble 
be  the  most  highly  ri-commemh'd  for 
practically  fri'i'  from  sulphuric  acid. 
t()  “club-foot”  and  “  linger-and-i o(‘ 
kitchi'ii  garch'us. 
Conci'iitiati'd  ])hosi)batic  manuri's  are  especially  valuable  for 
the  purpost'  of  ensuring  rapid  and  vigorous  ('arly  growth  of 
plants.  In  the  case  of  kilchen  vegetables  and  all  seedlings, 
they  are  of  great  advantage  in  making  these  plants  cpiicUly 
elaborate  a  widi'ly  distribiiti'd  and  de(‘])ly  penetrating  lU'twork 
of  healthy  roots.  I’lants  of  every  hind,  flowi'i's,  fruits,  and  vi‘g(‘- 
tables  are  greatly  beiu'tited  by  a  liberal  supply  of  phosphatic 
manur(‘,  always  inovided  tin*  soil  is  in  good  h(>art  otlu'i  w  ism 
Rash;  Si.ao  has  recently  come  much  into  favour  as  a  material 
for  providing  tin'  soil  with  a  lasting  supply  of  phosjilu'iric  acid, 
espi'cially  in  the  lower  layers,  snch  as  Vine  borders  and  in  fruit 
growing;  also  for  oinamental  tree.s  and  shinbs.  It  fnrnislnxs  a 
good  dressing  for  lawns,  cricket  grounds,  and  paddock.s,  as  it 
encourages  the  growth  of  clovers  and  the  finer  quality  of 
Foxgloves  for  the  garden.  {8cc  over  page.) 
J.  (!•  t'«>. 
