FEEDING 105 



Much care has to be exercised in the use of chemical 

 fertilizers for Carnations, as injury may be done before the 

 results are noticed and can be remedied. It has been 

 shown that dried blood, which supplies nitrogen to the 

 plant, has resulted in an increase in the number of flowers 

 without causing deterioration in the quality. Applications 

 of acid phosphate and sulphate of potash have not given 

 beneficial results when appHed alone. 



Experiments have been carried out at the floricultural 

 department of the University of Illinois and elsewhere, and 

 the most important point brought out is that dried blood or 

 sulphate of ammonia can be used with benefit on soils 

 naturally moderately well supplied with organic matter; 

 that no benefit has so far been found from the use of sul- 

 phate of potash on the brown silt loamy soils; that an in- 

 crease in production was noted when acid phosphate was 

 applied in addition to dried blood. 



Where the soil is rich, or has been fairly well manured 

 before planting, the old adage holds good, not to feed until 

 the turn of the year. 



These chemical fertilizers may be applied in the form 

 of weak solutions, say half an ounce to the gallon of water, 

 at first once in two weeks, commencing from September 

 or October if the plants are growing vigorously, and con- 

 tinuing until about Christmas, then discontinuing during 

 the dullest period until the middle of January, when the 

 plants begin to yield their heaviest crop. The words of 

 an eminent grower are well worth quoting: " An old soil 

 that has been under cultivation for a long time has no 

 vegetable fiber and is not suitable for chemical fertilizers, 

 as you are liable to promote a sour or acid condition. . . 

 If a man can get good cow manure and good horse manure 

 cheaply enough, these are the proper things to use; they 



