20 ORNAMENTAL GARDENING 



killed outright here with frost, although they are hardy in 

 Washington. 



It is an excellent idea to apply a fertilizer rich in potash in 

 the fall just before cool weather comes on; this will harden up 

 plant tissues, tend to check rampant, soft growth, and give the 

 plants vigor to go through the winter. Sulphate of potash, 

 muriate of potash or kainit are excellent fertilizers for wet, 

 sour or mucky lands which are always lacking in potash. 



Where it is possible, plant a crop of velvet beans (Dolichos 

 multiflorus), cow peas (Vigna catjang), or beggar weed (Desmo- 

 dium molle), plowing the whole under or in some way burying 

 it in the soil, and it is an excellent idea to do this before any 

 planting is done. I plant the Canavalias (C. gladiata and C. 

 obtusa) in my grounds on account of the nitrogen which their 

 roots collect and for the great amount of humus the decaying 

 vines produce, even though they may be something of a nuisance 

 at times by climbing over other things or being in the way under 

 foot. 



Liquid manure is very useful, especially for potted plants or 

 many delicate things. Such things as the greenhouse and hot- 

 house terrestrial orchids when planted in the open ground are 

 benefited by applications of weak liquid manure every week or 

 so during the growing season. A teaspoonful or a little more of 

 nitrate of soda dissolved in a gallon of water is a quick acting and 

 handy fertilizer for pot plants. If a handful of chicken-, sheep- 

 or well-decayed cow-manure is put into a ten-quart pail full of 

 water and the mixture is allowed to stand a day or so it will 

 make fine liquid fertilizer, and it may be applied every week or 

 ten days through the growing season. 



