55 
Strong fertilizers should not be put too close to the 
bulbs nor allowed to remain on the leaves. It is a 
good plan to turn on the overhead irrigation system 
soon after spreading any of the strong fertilizers which 
are apt to remain on the leaves so that they may be 
washed off. 
The most valuable part of the fertilizer for imme¬ 
diate use is in the dust. If the fertilizer be mixed with 
damp sand or dirt before spreading, this dust will not 
blow away nor settle on the leaves to burn and injure 
them. We like to put the fertilizer on just before cul¬ 
tivating. It can then immediately be worked into the 
soil with no loss in the air. 
We use an occasional application of liquid fertilizers 
for our best plants, pouring it around but about six 
inches away from the plant. Liquid fertilizers can 
easily be secured by placing any of the fertilizers, like 
sheep guano, in sacks in barrels of water and letting 
them stand a few days. This should be diluted very 
much with water before using. 
The feeding roots of most any plant are several 
inches from the plant itself and the gladiolus is no ex¬ 
ception. Hence not only for the safety of the bulb, but 
also to make the plant food most readily available, the 
fertilizer should be placed several inches from the plant. 
We must also remember that air is one of the best 
fertilizers and that to secure this the soil must be cul¬ 
tivated very often; not deep for the roots would be 
injured, but the surface stirred so that no hard crust 
will form. 
If we figure the cost of properly fertilizing an acre, 
all in one sum, the expense may grieve us; but let us 
look at it this way: Take sheep guano, for instance. 
