158 Growing Flowers 



applied in time. The fertilizer should be well 

 worked into the soil before planting, whenever 

 feasible, but adding it afterwards will give very 

 good results. Even on soil originally rich, a little 

 fertilizer should be added once a year. 



Well-rotted stable manure only should be applied 

 to plants. To put it on while fresh will only burn 

 the plants and they may never really survive it. 



Barnyard fertilizer is among the most valuable of 

 fertilizers. It should be six months old and should 

 be well worked into the soil. 



A little limewater poured on soil a few weeks 

 before planting will be very beneficial. Limewater 

 not only fertilizes but it has a disastrous effect 

 on cutworms and other insects which harm plants. 

 Clay and humus soils particularly need lime. 



Ashes from hardwood for roses is advice as old as 

 it is good. It should be placed where the roots 

 can reach it. 



Nitrate of soda is a good fertilizer and acts quickly 

 on the soil, but it should be used with great caution 

 as too much of it will burn a plant up. A teaspoon- 

 ful is a dose for a good-sized plant. 



