THE USE OF 



a]?ility of applying oil to the roots of your 

 plants in order to bring about a vigorous 

 growth. Such advice is dangerous. Oil will 

 form a coating over all roots with which 

 it comes in contact, and make it impossible 

 for them to take moisture properly from the 

 soil, as oil and water repel each other. The 

 result of applications of oil will surely be 

 diseased plants. 



Sometimes we read that beefsteak will 

 greatly benefit a plant, if applied to its roots. 

 There may be some nutriment in decaying 

 flesh, but not enough to warrant its use as a 

 fertilizer. The probabilities are that it will 

 breed worms to prey upon the delicate roots 

 of the plant to which it is applied. The 

 offensive odor given off by it, as it decays, 

 renders its use objectionable if it had all the 

 merits ascribed to it by those who take stock 

 in whims of this kind. 



When plants have been repotted in soil 

 prepared as advised in the chapter on pot- 

 ting-soil, it will not be necessary to use any 

 fertilizer for some time, as there will be as 

 much nutriment in the soil as will be required 

 by the plant for quite a period of growth. 



Soapsuds can be made use of when other 



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