COMMERCIAL FLOWERS 



have not used chemical fertilizers to over do. It must be taken 

 consideration when feeding solutions of any form they are taken up 



through the roots, and the process of 

 assimilation immediately follows. 



Food applied in this way is more 

 available than any other, and herein 

 lies our great danger ; we are apply- 

 ing a solution that is colorless, odor- 

 less and tasteless, having every ap- 

 pearance of water. 



Liquid Manure Liquid manure was 

 in use many years before chemical 

 fertilizers were known and in the 

 hands of the inexperienced is much 

 safer. There are so many ways of 

 formulating liquid manures that it is 

 impossible to give a definite rule with 

 assurance of having the best. Those 

 of experience know by the color when 

 it is safe to use, but such knowledge 

 is difficult to impart to others. The 

 following rules are considered safe: 

 y 2 bushel of horse or cow manure to 

 1 barrel of water. These proportions 

 are practically 1 pint to the gallon, 

 so that those requirng a small quant- 

 ity can make to suit their needs. Sheep manure is strong and will re- 

 quire 1% barrels of water for the same quantity. Hen and pigeon manures 

 are excellent, but being very strong are safest when used in weak solution, 

 and should not exceed 1 pound to 10 gallons. 



Tn preparing these liquids the manure is generally put in a coarse 

 burlap bag, allowing it to soak for two or three days. A box or barrel 

 may be filled and water applied, leach fashion, but the liquid thus obtained 

 is very strong and will need diluting. An old rule is to dilute to the 

 color of weak coffee, but this is hardly safe as some of the strong manure 

 give light colored liquids. 



As we know little regarding the strength of solutions made from ma- 

 terial at our disposal, the subject is more or less a matter of guess. Fine 

 blooms may be obtained by their use, and by closely observing growth of 

 the plant and quality of flowers it will soon be apparent how to use for 

 hest results. 



Where the soil is fairly rich with manure there is little or no need of 

 feeding until after they have been disbudded. If resorted to at all, the 

 applications should be very dilute or the plants will become too gross at 

 this period, which is marked by the thick crisp or harsh feeling foliage. 



When a leaf pressed between the thumb and finger cracks and will 

 not return to its normal position it is evident the treatment has been too 



FIG. 10. BUND GROWTH 



FROM EXCESSIVE NUTRIMENT. 



