DISEASED PLANTS 41 



sipns of fjrowing: before giving more, unless the soil 

 is likely to get very clry. 



Sometimes a plant becomes diseased because of 

 impurities in the soil. Such plants are often greatly 

 benefited, and freciuently restored to health by the 

 application of hot water. Let it be at least one hundred 

 and twenty degrees Fahrenheit. Use enough to thor- 

 oughly saturate all the soil in the pot. A hot bath 

 of this kind dissolves, and counteracts and removes 

 existing impurities to a great extent, when nothing 

 else will. 



Never give a fertilizer of any kind, or a stimulant, 

 to a sick plant. Wait till it has begun to grow and 

 takes on a healthy look. Then give it with great 

 caution. A healthy action must be restored before it 

 will be safe to give strong food. It will be injured 

 by fertilizers if they are given too soon, just the same 

 as a person recovering from a severe illness is injured 

 by overfeeding. I lis digestive organs are not in a 

 condition to make use of the food, consequently instead 

 of its strengthening him as it ought to, and as it would 

 if he were able to assimilate it, it increases the weak- 

 ness of the organs brought into operation. Give them 

 a chance to regain lost strength and tone before asking 

 much of them. 



If the trouble comes from worms in the soil, take 

 a piece of fresh lime as large as a teacup, and dissolve 

 it in a ten-quart pailful of water. When dissolved, 

 pour off the clear water and apply to your plants, 

 giving enough to thoroughly saturate the soil. This 

 will almost always drive out or kill the worms, and 

 seldom injures the plants. If one application is not 

 sufficient, repeat it. Most plants are benefited by the 

 use of lime water occasionally, as there is an element 

 of plant growth in the lime. I depend on this in 

 fighting the worm, and it generally gives complete 



