— 83 — 



on 



A. It is chiefly remedied in two different ways ; 

 I*' by means of a strawy dressing ; 2® by watering. 



Q. What is a strawy dressing ? 



A. A strawy dressing consist's generally of a mix- 

 tnre of tree leaves and short straws with dnng, in the 

 proportion of abont one half of the first two and 

 one half of the last which has been allowed to heat 

 and to rot dnring several months. An excellent 

 dressing is the dung which has already served in the 

 hot beds. . 



Q. How is this strawy dressing used ? 



A. It is used as a coating to protect certain plants 

 when once they have started, or a short time after they 

 have been transplanted ; it is applied on the rows or 

 on the beds, so that the earth be completely covered 



by it. . ,. y**' 



Q. What precautions should be taken before coat- 

 ing the soil with this strawy dressing? 



A. The only precaution to be taken is that of delv" 

 ing the ground, that is to say, of loosening the soil 

 around the plants with the weed hook or the scra- 

 per, because, once the dressing is applied, the soil 

 must be left untouched. 



Q. What is the effect of this delving ? 



A. The effect of this delving is to make the soil so 

 light, that the slightest rain showers or the night 

 dew may reach easily the roots of theplsnits through 

 the dressing. 



