It is unsafe to use chemical fertilizers or liquid manures in full 

 strength on a heavy soil which is not provided with sufficient fibrous 

 material. 



Stuart, of Indiana, recommends as a complete fertilizer for roses 

 the following mixture: Superphosphate, 130 pounds; ammonium 

 sulphate, 13 pounds; sodium nitrate, 31 pounds; potassium sulphate, 

 26 pounds. He recommends 1 ounce of this mixture to 1 gallon of 

 water for 2 square yards of bench surface once a week as the plants 

 need it. This is equivalent to 3 pounds to 48 gallons of water 

 (approximately a barrel) applied to 864 square feet of bench surface, 

 or about 6 ounces to 50 gallons of water for 100 square feet. This is 

 the right strength for weak plants. Twelve ounces could be used to 

 50 gallons of water per 100 feet for strong plants once in ten days 

 or two weeks, as the plants need it. It is safer to use the 50 gallons 

 per 100 feet standard of application, as this is about the amount of 

 water usually applied in an ordinary watering to 100 square feet of 

 bed 6 inches deep. 



Stuart has recommended the following as quick-acting plant 

 food mixtures, differing only in the sources from which the food 

 elements are obtained: 



(I) Sixteen ounces nitrate of soda, 10 ounces potassium sul- 

 phate, 20 ounces disodium phosphate. 



(II) Five ounces nitrate of soda, 20 ounces potassium nitrate, 

 20 ounces disodium phosphate. 



(III) Sixteen ounces nitrate of soda, 10 ounces potassium sul- 

 phate, 33 ounces acid phosphate, containing 12 per cent of available 

 phosphoric acid. 



Either one of these may be used at the rate of 8 to 12 ounces of 

 the mixture to 50 gallons of water per 100 square feet of bench, the 

 strength of the solution depending on the vigor of the plants. 



Wagner's solution has given good results for roses as well as car- 

 nations and other crops. It is made as follows: Phosphate of am- 

 monia, 2 ounces; nitrate of soda, 1% ounces; nitrate of potash, 1% 

 ounces ; sulphate of ammonia, 1 1-3 ounces ; water, 50 gallons. 



C. W. Ward, at the last meeting of the Society of American 

 Florists, recommended some valuable formula for general use based 

 on his own experience, and has given in a very concise manner the 

 general principles governing their use. 



Various other combinations of sources of nitrogen, potash, and 

 phosphorus may be used at about the same rate of total soluble ma- 

 terial for 100 square feet of bed 6 inches deep. The proportion of 

 each food element must depend upon the need of the crop. It is 

 necessary to consider the total soluble materials (salts), as well as 

 the total available food, when figuring on the strength of solution to 

 use. This is because, as previously explained, roots are often injured 

 when the amount of salt in solution, whether food or other kind, 

 exceeds a certain limit; that is, about 1 part by weight in 400 of 

 water, for ordinary crops, though this varies more or less, according 

 to the crop grown, nature of the salts in question, soil conditions, etc. 



