Such Stuff as Blooms Are Made of 69 



Rightly used, nitrate of soda is absolutely safe, 

 and gives such wonderful results that no gar- 

 dener will want to be without it. A perfectly 

 safe way to use it is to dissolve a tablespoonful in 

 hot water and stir this into a ten- or twelve-quart 

 watering can. Apply it about the roots after 

 watering. 



On crops grown in solid benches nitrate of soda 

 may be applied as is to the surface, using, how- 

 ever, only the equivalent of a pinch to each 

 plant. Twenty-five pounds of nitrate of soda 

 will be in keeping with the quantity of bone 

 suggested above. 



Tankage. — Another material which I have 

 found so useful that I always like to have it on 

 hand is tankage. This also is rich in nitrogen, 

 but is not quite as quick-acting as nitrate of soda 

 and is more evenly balanced in plant foods. It 

 is excellent for mixing with potting soil. Say 

 50 pounds of this. 



Dried Blood is quite similar to and may be 

 used in place of tankage. 



Guano is better than either, but is not always 

 easy to get, so put in a stock of 100 pounds of 

 guano — it keeps well. 



Either of these materials, or both, mixed half 

 and half, may be added to the potting soil, or as 

 a fertilizer on solid beds, and will give the kind of 



