FOOD FOR PLANTS

Evening Star, Issue 21974, 9 March 1935, Page 3

FOOD FOR PLANTS

The roots of plants respond to and absorb the nourishment from liquid manure very quickly. With dry ingredients its takes considerably longer for the <fertiliser to become available as plant food. It must first be made soluble through contact with the moisture in the soil (writes the ‘Do-, minion’s’ garden contributor). Liquid manure is quick in its action, and on this account should only be used in a weak form, but it may be applied at short intervals with good effect. It should not be given when the roots are dormant—or what we consider dormant—but when the plants are -growing actively, and must never be applied to newly-planted subjects. The best time to give liquid manure is after sundown or during a dull, sunless day, when the soil is moist. If it is not naturally so, make it quite damp with clear water before giving the fertiliser. Diluted drainage from farmyard manure is one of the best kinds of liquid manure. It must be collected in a clean state, and then diluted preferably with rain water, till it is a pale brown colour. If this is not available a similar solution may be obtained by putting a quantity of fresh cow manure in a sack and placing it in » barrel or tub of rain water. The bag must be moved round daily for a few days, and squeezed between two sticks to get the goodness of the dung into the water. The addition of a little superphosphate will be most beneficial. - The quantity to be recommended is a handful to every gallon of liquid. A very good liquid stimulant may also be made frem poultry manure. Into a cask or other vessel of rain water put the dry manure enclosed in a sa6k, and treat in the same way as advised for cow manure. Where none of these natural fertilisers is available guano or a mixture of phosphate of potash and nitrate of potash may be used to make a solution. The quantities to use are 3oz of guano to ten gallons of water, and loz each of the nitrate and phosphate of potash to four gallons of water. Most vegetable crops arc very appreciative of liquid manure. When applied with care any of the above may be given with safety to many flowers. When giving the manure be very , careful that it does not come into conthe Rkat&i