CHAPTER IX 



FERTILIZERS 



Most plants need a fertilizer of some kind, at 

 certain periods. But care must be taken in the use 

 of them. They should never be given to a plant in 

 a dormant condition, or to a sickly one. The resting 

 plant will be excited by it, and efforts in the direction 

 of growth will be made prematurely. It will act on 

 the sickly plant very much as rich food acts on a 

 debilitated person, and aggravate diseased conditions, 

 instead of assisting in the restoration of health. A 

 plant should be growing, or beginning to grow, before 

 any fertilizer is applied to it. 



Liquid manure is greatly advised. The formula 

 for preparing it is this : Take dry manure — from the 

 cow yard, preferably — and pour hot water over it. 

 This will soak into and soften the material, and by and 

 by, when more water is applied, some will run away 

 at the opening in the lower part of the barrel or 

 box used, and this is the liquid manure you are to 

 make use of. It should be diluted, if dark in color, 

 until it has the brown tint of rather weak table tea. 

 Never use it when almost black, because that indicates 

 greater strength than the ordinary plant can stand. 

 This can be applied to plants like the Chrysanthemum, 

 and others which are gross feeders, as often as once 

 a week if they are in soil of only ordinary richness. 

 For most plants, however, once in ten days or two 

 weeks will be often enough to use it. Rapid develop- 

 ment is not desirable. Rather a steady, but vigorous 

 and healthy growth. ' 



