MISCELLANEOUS EXHIBITION PLANTS. 103 



of vigoi'ous growers, they should be fed every second or 

 third daj' with weak liquid manure, gradually increasing the 

 strength of the liquid as they are able to bear it. We have 

 adopted the following method and materials, with fair success, 

 for feeding chrysanthemums. First, a barrowful of fresh 

 cow-dung and a bushel of soot are put into a half-hogshead 

 cask, mixing it welL The cask is then filled with water, 

 well stiri'ed, and allowed to stand to settle, when the clear 

 liquid is fit for use, and is reduced to the required strength 

 with clean soft water. When the clear liquid is exhausted, 

 a barrowful of horse-droppings is added, and the cask re- 

 filled with water, well stii-red, and allowed to settle before 

 using. In the second week in August the plants are top- 

 dressed with about half an inch thick of the following mix- 

 ture : — A third of turfy loam, another of leaf-mould and coarse 

 sand, and the lemaining third equal parts of bone-meal, arti- 

 ficial manure, and wood-ashes. Until the roots have fully 

 occupied the top-dressing, only clean water is given ; after- 

 wards diluted liquid manure is again applied. About the 

 first week of September the cask is cleaned out, and a 

 barrowful of fresh sheep-droppings, the same of cow-dung, 

 and a bushel of soot are put in, filling it up with water, 

 stirring it well, and allowing it time to settle as before. It 

 is then given to the plants at every watering, the strength 

 being carefully regulated according to the condition and re- 

 quirements of the plants. In about a fortnight afterwards 

 a barrowful of manure from the poultry-yard, with a little 

 sulphate of ammonia, are put into the cask, which carries 

 on the supply till the beginning of October. The cask is 

 then refilled with a mixture of cow, sheep, and pig's dung, 

 adding some soot and artificial manure, which will last as 

 long as liquid manure is beneficial. These have all proved 

 excellent liquids, but they must be used with sound judg- 

 ment, and inexperienced cultivators must remember that 

 " weak and often " is a golden rule in the use of all stimu- 

 lating manures, whether they are liquid or solid, and they 

 should never be applied to plants suffering from dryness. 

 Bv the beginning of October the plants should be well 



