Growing Flowers 189 



mulch and this mulch will help in conserving 

 moisture. 



The back often aches from hoeing not because the 

 work was long or arduous but because the hoe blade 

 was not set at the right angle. If hoeing is uncom- 

 fortable, reset the blade until it can be used with 

 no discomfort. 



Growing plants should not be neglected merely 

 because they seem to be doing well. They will not 

 keep on doing well unless cultivation is given and 

 the soil contains enough plant food to nourish 

 them. Cultivation should not, however, be car- 

 ried to extremes. To constantly dig around a 

 plant will not be beneficial. 



Cultivation of the soil conserves moisture, without 

 which plants will not flourish. Even though they 

 may grow, the leaves will be poor and the flowers 

 can never reach their best development. 



Cultivation is of as much importance as fertili- 

 zation, perhaps more. Plants will not flourish if 

 they are set in the ground and forgotten, while 

 frequent cultivation will often offset the disadvan- 

 tage of poor soil. 



