86 THE BOOK OF THE SWEET PEA 



if they be applied in the evening. Heavy feeding is 

 not desirable, and in no case should it be started until 

 the plants are almost through their first flush of blossoms. 

 We deprecate the application of manure water to plants 

 that are quite dry at the roots. Far better is it to 

 apply clear water first, allowing this some little time to 

 become absorbed before manure water is applied. Just 

 a pinch of nitrate of soda, once a fortnight, near to 

 each plant, and this, watered in, will act as a splendid 

 stimulant. Soot water is a safe and an excellent plant 

 food, and is an aid for getting colour. Sheep and cow 

 manure, in liquid form, are both very good and safe 

 fertilisers. Two or three applications each week will 

 suffice, and on light soils they are especially valuable. 

 Ichthemic Guano is one of the best plant foods we have 

 used for Sweet Peas. It is a safe and reliable manure, 

 and adds very materially to the colour of the flowers. 

 We soak this guano in a bag for a day or two before 

 using, by which time it is in a condition for the roots to 

 assimilate the plant food very readily. Dissolve Ich- 

 themic Guano at the rate of I Ib. to thirty gallons of water. 

 Clay's Fertiliser is another safe manure to use, and is 

 especially valuable in promoting growth in the early 

 summer. Sulphate of ammonia should be dissolved at 

 the rate of a quarter of an ounce to a gallon of water, and 

 in the case of nitrate of soda, half an ounce to a gallon of 

 water answers well. The two last-mentioned stimulants 

 need to be cautiously applied, and only when a much- 

 needed fillip for the plants is required should they be 

 brought into use. Nitrate of soda is very quick in 

 action, and has a special value when the weather is very 

 dry and growth is slow in consequence. An application 

 of this stimulant will promote growth at once. 



Soot water may be made by placing a peck of soot in 

 a bag or sack, and soaking this in twenty gallons of water. 

 Fowls' manure may be mixed in the same proportion, 



