WJiVnOW GARDENING. 33 
with a ligiSici soil give it another chance for life, watering it sparingly until the 
foliage shows Its return to health and strength. 
Never pot a plant that has its ball of earth quite dry, for you cannot givo it 
water afterward. All the water you pour upon it will run down the fresh soij 
at the sides of the pot, leaving the plant to perish with drought. Sometimes 
in potting plants, you will find a large brown root coiled up in the pot like a 
snake. Cut it off close to the mam root and put this plant in a ])ot of smaller 
size, and very soon fresh and more nourishing roots will take its place. Such 
roots are often found in pots of Geraniums. This piece of root can be made to 
grow by cutting it into 3 inch lengths, and planting them in pots of sandy loam, 
leaving a quarter of an inch of the root uncovered, and keeping them warm and 
moist. 
In placing plants m pots in the open air, either sink thorn in the borders or on 
tiie grass. Be sure to scatter coal or wood ashes underneath them, to prevent 
worms from entering the pots and the soil from becoming clogged. 
FertiUzers for Stimulating House P.lants. 
Ail plants will grow much riner if stimulants are given, say at least once a week. 
A very fine liquid fertilizer can be made out of horse and cow manure. Take 
an old bucket for the purpose, put into it several shovels full of manure, to 
which add one pint of charcoal dust, this neutralizes its odor, add to it plenty of 
boiling water, let it cool, and applj' to the plant. Tt should not l>e given too 
strong, but about the color of weak tea. The bucket can stay filled up with 
water for six weeks or two months as it is needed, then throw away its contents 
and begin again. 
Guano water, a decoction of Peruvian guano, makes a good stimulant. Tt 
should be applied once a week to tlie roots, taking care not to touch the leaves 
with it. To one gallon of hot water, add one large tablespoonful of guano ; 
stir until it is dissolved. Hen manure may be substituted and used in about 
the same quantity. 
When used carefully, either are excellent, and give the plants a bright, 
vigorous green. 
Ammonia water Ri\m\i\a.le!i growth very satisfactorily. Dissolve 4 ounce of 
pulverized ammonia in a gallon of water, and it will prove more grateful to the 
plants even than rain water which also con tains ammonia. A teaspoonful of aqua 
ammonia added to a gallon of warm water will be of same efficacy. Flour of 
hone, when it can he obtained in the form of powder, easily soluble in water, is 
still more suitable, for it contains other elements of plant nutrition. Used in 
moderate quantities, not over a tablespoonful to a gallon of warm water, it will 
give the plants a healthy impetus ; give a sufficient quantity to wet the whole ball 
of earth and pour off the surplus water that runs into the saucer. A special 
fertilizer used to advantage by some, is composed as follows : take of sulphate 
of ammonia four ounces, nitrate of potash two ounces, white sugar one ounce, 
add one pint of hot water; when dissolved, cork tightly and add a teaspoonful 
