THE USE OF FERTILIZERS 



at the expense of the plant's vitality, and al- 

 most invariably this unnatural growth is fol- 

 lowed by a reaction disastrous in the extreme. 

 The effort on the part of the plant to properly 

 digest and assimilate the food increases the 

 trouble precisely as over-eating affects the 

 human stomach when in a weakened condi- 

 tion. 



There is one rule regarding the use of fertil- 

 izers that no person who would be successful 

 in the culture of plants can afford to overlook, 

 and that is this : Never apply a fertilizer of any 

 kind to a plant that is not growing. 



If growth is just beginning, after a period 

 of rest, let the amount of fertilizer used be in 

 proportion to the growth being made. Keep 

 in mind the fact that what is needed is not a 

 rapid development, but a sturdy one, and be 

 satisfied with a healthy growth. Rapid growth 

 almost invariably means a weak one, from 

 which, as has already been said, a reaction 

 may be expected, after a little. 



Never force a plant. 



I am aware that many a reader may say 

 here: "Why doesn't he tell us just how much 

 fertilizer to use ? How are we to know this ?" 

 To which I reply: You must exercise your 



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