MAY: THIRD WEEK 131 



Nitrate of soda is very powerful and it often causes great 

 damage in the hands of a careless or an inexperienced 

 gardener. A small lump of it will burn a hole through a 

 tough rhubarb leaf or will kill a small plant. From 100 to 

 200 pounds an acre — one pound to each 200 square feet — 

 at each appHcation will be sufficient. It may be spread 

 round the plants and hills just before a rain, or it may be 

 dissolved in water — a tablespoonful to a ten or twelve quart 

 watering can. 



Liquid Manure Gives Good Results 



Liquid manure is also rich in nitrogen and is of special 

 value for backward crops or flowers. The best material for 

 making it is cow manure, although stable manure or poultry 

 manure will do. The main objection to its use is that it is 

 disagreeable to handle, but this can be to a large extent 

 eliminated by the following method: 



Get a large barrel or a keg and bury it a third or a half in 

 the soil, preferably in a shady spot, and of course as much 

 out of the way as possible. Fill this about one-fifth full of 

 manure, and add water until about two-thirds full. Use this 

 as a stock solution, adding water when needed. It may be 

 taken out with a dipper tied to a wooden handle of con- 

 venient length. A dipperful or two poured into a watering 

 can full of water will produce very satisfactory results. 

 If an old funnel and a piece of coarse bagging are kept on 

 hand the hquid manure may be strained, and this will 

 prevent clogging of the sprinkler. Free use of this manured 

 water round roses and other flowers for cutting, as they 

 begin to come into bud and bloom, will give splendid results. 



A shortage of nitrogen is shown by a lack of the dark- 

 green color that normal leaves should show. If an appHca- 

 tion of nitrate of soda or liquid manure does not cure the 

 trouble, a more general tonic may be needed. For this 

 purpose, bone flour and genuine guano are good. Being 

 less soluble than nitrate of soda, they should be stirred well 

 into the soil by cultivating. 



