FEEDING 51 



discontinue them, especially the nitrate of soda, when 

 the bud is about the size of a marble, or the flowers 

 will lack substance and keeping qualities, will damp 

 easily, and shed their petals when handled. Once a 

 week for either of these potent agents should be the 

 limit, and the quantity stated should never be ex- 

 ceeded. The solution is a colorless liquid, and, if of 

 double str|pgth, would appear the same; therefore, one 

 must be sure of weight and measure, and adhere to 

 them, except they may be proportionately diminished 

 should a weaker application be desirable. 



As a top dressing, concentrated manures may also 

 be used, should conditions show the need; and the 

 need that would suggest such feeding would be that 

 of additional phosphoric acid, since the other essential 

 elements of healthy growth can be more thoroughly 

 and more speedily supplied in the manner indicated, 

 with sulphates and nitrates. To be of any benefit, 

 especially in an advanced stage of the plant's growth, 

 phosphoric acid should be applied in some phosphate 

 of quick solubility. Bone in various forms is the 

 staple source of phosphatic food, but this is only avail- 

 able as the bone decays, and this, naturally, is a slow 

 process. It follows then, that any application of fer- 

 ilizers of which bone is a large constituent should 

 'ave the bone reduced to the finest particles, so as to 

 ciuse rapid decay and the ready solution of its 

 elements in contact with the moist soil. Failing this, 

 not only would there be waste, but an undesirable con- 

 dition in the presence of considerable proportions of 

 rich food as a residue in the soil, not needed by the 

 plants as the flowers attained maturity. Some of the 

 mineral superphosphates may be used in like manner 

 by observing the same conditions. 



There are also prepared plant foods of a rich and 



