SURFACE CULTIVATION 59 



In order to secure the full advantage of the food that 

 was originally put into the soil, and also that which is given 

 in the form of liquid manure, it is imperative that the surface 

 soil shall either be persistently loosened with a fork or a hoe, 

 or that a mulching of manure shall be spread over the entire 

 area. Obviously the latter is the better system, since at 

 the same time as it conserves the moisture in the soil it 

 adds food to it, and thus affords a double benefit. As a 

 rule the shorter the manure for top-dressing the better, 

 but if necessary, longer stuff can be utilised, in which case 

 it is wise to fork it up occasionally, or it may settle down 

 into a close mass and prevent air penetrating freely into the 

 ground, thus doing as much, or even more, harm than good. 

 Before any mulching is applied the grower should loosen 

 the surface soil and destroy all weeds. In most cases it 

 will be wise to draw back the dressing when water or liquid 

 manure has to be given, replacing it as soon afterwards as 

 it is wise to go on the soil. It will also be found beneficial 

 to hose or syringe the plants forcibly on the evenings of 

 intensely hot, dry days. 



Although the plants will continue to produce flowers in 

 succession over a long period when the management is 

 good, it is certain that there will come a time when they 

 show signs of failing, and the blooms will neither be so 

 numerous nor the stem stalks so long. The display in many 

 instances will be maintained by plants that have been grown 



