142 FIVE AGUES TOO MUCH. 



requirements. The great object in applying a fer 

 tilizer is to so subdivide its particles as to enable the 

 finer tissues of the roots to take it up by their almost 

 invisible mouths. Not only is this done perfectly by 

 dissolving the material to be applied, but water, the 

 second great essential of vegetable life, is supplied at 

 the same time. Upon this subject all the scientific 

 books, including my favorites, &quot; Ten Acres Enough&quot; 

 and &quot; Bridgeman s Assistant,&quot; enter with an .enthusi 

 asm which is surprising to the novice. Of course I 

 was a great admirer of the liquid theory, and re 

 solved that my strawberries should not suffer from 

 its want. 



Nothing, however could be done till the following 

 spring, and we must anticipate events to give the con 

 clusion of the attempt. It was with some anxiety that 

 I watched the removal of the straw covering the next 

 April, and with no little relief did I observe that the 

 &quot; Bonheur Seedlings&quot; if they could be so called now 

 that they had attained maturity were still there ; 

 not quite so numerous, perhaps, as when they were 

 covered up, and not by any means the original two 

 thousand, but still to the number of several scores. 

 The first thing to do was to give them a strong fertil 

 izer, and that must be liquid. The drainings from 

 the kitchen had been led into a sink, and, having 



