FEEDING. 129 



using about one-half bushel of manure to the barrel 

 of water. A watering with this kind of fertilizer 

 every ten or fifteen days during the winter will do 

 no harm and may do good. Great care, however, 

 must be exercised in keeping the manure water 

 fresh and odorless. If it is allowed to sour and be- 

 come offensive it should never be run on the beds 

 as the flowers will take up the odor. If we were 

 growing roses, carnations, or chrysanthemums our 

 discussion of the use of liquid fertilizers would be 

 different, as these are crops that can stand feeding 

 while the violet cannot at least this has been our 

 experience and the result of observations in many 

 places and under widely varying conditions. 



In concluding this chapter there are several 

 points to which we wish to call special attention : 

 (T) Never delay propagating the plants until late 

 in spring for such stock cannot be depended upon. 

 (2) Always propagate two or even three times 

 more plants than your houses or frames will hold 

 in order to cover risks and to have plenty of stock 

 for selection. (3) From the time the cutting 

 leaves the parent plant until it has fulfilled its 

 mission as a full grown crown, never allow it 

 to become checked in any way. (4) Adopt a 

 rigid system of selection. (5) Practice cleanli- 

 ness about every part of the work. (6) Apply 

 water with due regard for the plants' wants and 

 not by any set of rules. 



