HINTS TO HORTICULTURISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 13

HINTS TO HORTICULTURISTS.

A TALK BY AN EXPERT. An interesting and practical lecture dealing with the nature and effects of manures was given to members of the Horticultural Society on Thursday night in Williamson's Buildings by Mr. Mills ("Dianthus" of the "Star"), who emphasised the fundamental point that the chief requirements of all plants were nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash, and gave practical advice on the best manner of manuring to supply these requirements. The use of salt was advised only for' such natural seaside plants as silver beet, cabbage and asparagus, as, apart from its moisture creating and retaining properties, salt has little other value. Mr. Mills dealt with the artificial manures, which had to be used for the reason that stable manure, which he regarded as the complete manure, was not always available, and he explained their respective actions, and the most effective methods of using them. In the course of a number of hints on manuring he reminded horticulturists that phosphoric acid and nitrogen very quickly washed away, so that it was necessary to keep their artificial mixtures covered from the rain before use, that nitrate of soda always gave the best results when applied individually just at the time when the plant needed nitrogen as a stimulant, and was rather dangerous to the plants when used without knowledge of its properties and effects. Hints were also given on green manuring, and in the course of discussion after the talk, Mr. Mills gave practical advice and experience on difficulties that members had individually experienced.