USE WITH CARE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 February 1939, Page 3

USE WITH CARE

LIQUID MANURE FOR DAHLIAS. Watering, unless in a poor soil, will give the roots all the necessary nourishment. Liquid manure given to strong growers that carry coarse-petalled flowers only accentuate the faults and often spoils the blooms altogether. Far rathei have smaller flowers that are shapely and pleasing than grow those which are coarse and ugly. You can give liquid manure to advantage in light volcanic or sandy soil that leaches out quickly. Cow manure and soot provide the ideal liquid. Make it weak rather than strong, and give no oftener than once in four days. Never give liquid manure to a partially dry dahlia. Wet the ground first and then let lhe fertiliser be given once or twice a week. Where the growths are straight and strong, and 'the land rich loam, very little more than water should be necessary. A safe dahlia manure can be made by using four ’ounces of sulphate of ammonia, eight ounces superphosphate, and twenty gallons of water. Use the liquid three days after ‘’brewing." The plants producing specimen flowers will take two to four gallons a week. Be sure that your plants require stimulating before giving the above. It is quite an easy matter to overfeed.