care never to exceed the strength advised by the makers of artificial 
fertihzers; weak and often should be the rule. 
Avoid using liquid manure when the soil is dry; water with plain 
water first until the whole of the soil is damp through, then give a 
little of the liquid manure. To use it for watering in the ordinary 
way is both injurious and wastefuls — injurious because it burn 
the roots, and wasteful because so much runs away through the 
drainage holes. 
Variation of food is most beneficial, and as wide a change as 
possible should be afforded, say, soot water, liquid natural manure, 
then some good artificial, with, of course, plain water between each. 
It is a mistake to suppose that all classes of plants absorb nutriment 
equally readily. A few are better without it altogether, cacti and 
cyclamens being notable examples in this respect. Begonias, on the 
other hand, are gross feeders and will take a large amount. 
With more delicate rooted subjects and annuals like schinzanthus, 
a weaker application should be employed, as the roots easily burn, 
particularly with chemicals. As to how often liquid manures should 
be applied, we must be guided by the plant's capacity for absorbing; 
it is useless to overdo it, as it merely remains in the soil and causes it to 
become sticky and sour, the plants speedily lose foliage and fade. 
Those subjects which flower all at once, so to speak, must not be 
fed after the color shows, but those which continue to throw up blooms 
in succession must be kept going. Ferns and most foliage plants are 
best confined to soot water and nitrate of soda, quarter of an ounce 
to a gallon of water, but care must be taken not to use this oftener 
than once a week, and that none is spilled over the leaves. 
— Canadian Florist. 
Questions and Answers 
Our Santa Barbara member asks how to get rid of snails and ants. 
There seems to be no remedy for the former. Ashes and 
soot placed about the roots of plants that especially attract 
them will keep the snails away. Salt and lime are also said to 
be distasteful to them. 
As for ants — there is on the market at present, an effective "Ant 
Destroyer" for sale at $i.oo per pound, also an insecticide called 
"Vermine" costing 65 cents per pint, and used i part to 400 parts of 
water, which is successful in destroying ants and all insects that work 
under the soil. This will not injure plant life. 
Ants' nests may be destroyed by making a hole in the center of 
the nest and pouring in 2 or 3 teaspoonfuls of carbon bisulphide, then 
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