132 YAKD AND GARDEN 



manure. Set a pound of this, held in a cloth 

 bag, in five gallons of water and let it remain 

 until the solution takes upon itself the" color of. 

 weak tea. Then apply it at the- roots of the 

 plants once a week. "Weak solutions frequently 

 applied are better than strong solutions applied 

 less often. Bone meal may be used by sprink- 

 ling it lightly on the surface of- the soil, but it is 

 never as satisfactory as the liquid fertilizer. 



CULTIVATION 



Window boxes, even where their proportions 

 are generous, require much water. As a mat- 

 ter of fact they should be thoroiaghly watered 

 every day if they are exposed to the sun, and 

 in other situations often enough to prevent 

 the soil from becoming dry. There is little 

 danger of souring the soil if drainage has been 

 properly provided. It is also necessary to keep 

 the surface soil loose ; never permit it to harden 

 and cake. Avoid, too, the planting of flowers 

 that demand sun in situations where only shade 

 is to be had, and, on the other hand, do not 

 waste time and effort by setting sliade-loving 

 plants in positions exposed to the full glare of 

 the sun. Neither will thrive. 



.Usually the most perplexing problem is to 



