FLORICULTURE 517 



of fibrous material, leaf mold, or partially decayed vegetable fiber 

 which will absorb the fertilizer and give it up slowly to the roots. In 

 a compost made as described above, feeding with manure solution 

 can be profitably alternated with commercial fertilizers. If the 

 vegetative growth needs stimulating and brightening and the plants 

 have strong root systems, give a feed of nitrate of soda 10 ounces 

 to 50 gallons of water per 100 square feet of area. If the plants do 

 not have strong, vigorous-feeding roots, and especially if the soil is 

 not rich in fibrous material, use 6 ounces to 50 gallons of water. Con- 

 tinue at intervals of ten days to two weeks till growth is active and 

 the foliage is of good, rich color. If growth is active and of good 

 color but spindling and soft, the need of potash and lime is indicated 

 and nitrogen should be avoided in this case. Potash may be sup- 

 plied by giving a light coating of good wood ashes, 1 pound to 20 

 square feet of bench. Or if good wood ash is not available, sulphate 

 or muriate of potash can be used, at the rate of 8 to 12 ounces to 50 

 gallons of water per 100 square feet of bench, at intervals of ten days 

 to two weeks, or sprinkled dry at the same rate per 100 square feet. 

 When either sulphate or muriate is used it should be followed after 

 the second or third application by a sprinkling of lime, about 1 pound 

 to 20 square feet. When the growth is plump and solid use only the 

 ordinary manure water when needed. If the plants are growing well 

 but are not making flower buds, cut down on nitrogen and give phos- 

 phoric acid either as steamed fine bone, free from salt, at the rate of 1 

 pound to 20 square feet ; or, if it is desirable to avoid the nitrogen of 

 the bone, give a dressing of superphosphate, 1 pound to 100 square 

 feet, and follow in a few days by lime as above. The superphosphate 

 may be applied in water, using 1 pound to 50 gallons of water for 

 100 square feet. If there is reason to believe that there is a general 

 lack of plant food, a complete fertilizer should be used, alternating 

 with manure solutions. Voorhees recommends one-fourth pound ni- 

 trate soda, 1 pound acid phosphate, and one-half pound muriate of 

 potash for 100 square feet of area. Unless soil conditions are favor- 

 able and the roots strong, the amount mentioned is a little too high. 

 A pound of the mixture per 100 square feet is safer. The amount of 

 available water in a square foot of moist loam 6 inches deep (one- 

 half cubic foot) is approximately 5 to 7 pounds (or pints), or for 

 100 square feet from 500 to 700 pints or pounds. At this rate 1 

 pound of material in solution in the 50 gallons of water (about 1 to 

 400) would add 4.8 grams (72 grains), or approximately one-sixth 

 of an ounce to each square foot (6 inches deep). Counting the 

 water in this amount of soil under the most favorable conditions for 

 growth as 5 to 7 pounds per square foot of bed, there will be a soil 

 solution (assuming that what is added remains largely in solution) 

 of from 1 to 500 or 1 to 700. This is as strong as most plants will 

 stand without more or less injury to the feeding roots. It is too 

 strong to risk such very soluble and active materials as nitrate of 

 soda, nitrate of potash, and muriate of potash, but is safer for super- 

 phosphates or sulphate of potash, as recommended above. ( Y. B. 

 1902.) 



