LARGE BLOOMS 15 
pour into the crater a large bucketful of water (three 
and a half to four gallons). When the water has 
soaked away fill up the hollow as a mulch, to lessen 
evaporation. Repeat the manure and the water in a 
fortnight if the plant seems backward; in three weeks 
if the plant is doing well. All this to be done, of course, 
after the flower buds have started, not before. 
Nitrate of soda will greatly stimulate the entire 
plant's growth, foliage as well as blooms. As a liquid 
manure use one tablespoonful to a gallon of water, and 
do not let the solution fall on the foliage. 
Liquid manures used with the intention of increas- 
ing blooms must be applied with discretion. When the 
flower buds have expanded enough to "show color," 
the liquid applications must be reduced, or the flowers 
will grow too fast, will be "soft" and their keeping qual- 
ities will be poor. 
Never apply liquid manures when the ground is 
dry or the plants will be "burned." If it is a dry spell 
irrigate the garden and allow the water to soak in until 
the soil is moistened quite deeply. When the soil is 
full of moisture (not sodden with water, but moist), 
it is a filter, stopping and holding the plant food ele- 
ments of the liquid manure. The water, which has 
held the plant food in suspension or solution, settling 
down into the subsoil. 
Another convenient way of using manure water is 
to sink three flower pots flush with the earth, or nearly 
