132 The Amateur's Book of the Dahlia 



weeds which may be there. This remedy is also 

 most valuable in the vegetable garden and in 

 soil destined for hot beds and greenhouses. 



With a strong crow bar force a hole into the 

 bed about twelve inches deep. Pour into it one 

 tablespoonful of carbon bi-sulphide and close the 

 hole immediately. Repeat these holes every 

 eighteen or twenty inches in every direction, but 

 never nearer than two and a half feet from a 

 shrub or growing plant. Their roots, spreading 

 some two feet, might be injured by the treat- 

 ment. This chemical instantly forms a gas 

 which percolates throughout the soil and kills 

 all animal life. It also seems to have a tendency 

 to liberate certain ingredients in the soil, thus 

 adding to its fertility. 



If you are a man and inclined to smoke a 

 meditative pipe while doing garden chores please 

 have courage enough to desist during this 

 operation, else — ^Bang! and that will be the end 

 of the story ! 



In a few hours the gas wiU have entirely passed 

 off, and next day it is quite safe to plant the 

 garden, feeling sure that no cutworms will 

 disturb them this year at least. Carbon bi- 

 sulphide may be purchased from any chemist for 

 fifty cents per pound. It is a liquid which, like 

 ether, evaporates quickly. The pound seems to 



