14 FERTILIZERS AND 
plants with long tap roots. If so the probability is that 
the subsoil has had all its phosphoric acid exhausted, and 
it must be remembered that dahlias are planted deeply. 
They should be down not less than six inches, and with 
many horse drawn plows soil penetration is hardly that, 
and the tubers are formed right on, or even in, the sub- 
soil. Deeply plowed in bone meal will restore to the 
lower soil the phosphoric acid so necessary to plant 
welfare. It penetrates the soil, and remains in it, 
a vital reserve for vegetable life. 
Manure from the poultry house is the richest of all 
animal manures. The next in value is sheep manure, 
then hog, horse, and last of all and least of these in 
fertilizer value, cow manure. In phosphoric acid and 
potash hen manure is three times richer than hog man- 
ure, seven times better than cow manure, five times 
better than sheep manure, twice as valuable as horse 
manure. Besides their good work as insect killers, it 
would seem worth while to let poultry have the run of 
the dahlia garden. 
The use of liquid manure from supplies in tubs or 
barrels is apt to be offensive in the small suburban gar- 
den area. A clean and convenient method is to apply 
the manure directly to the plant. Draw the earth 
away from each plant, or draw up an outer ridge, to 
form a crater or hollow from a foot to eighteen inches in 
diameter. Scatter around the crater half a teacupful 
(not more) of sheep or poultry manure. Then slowly 
