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Show EARLY CULTIVATION IS BEST Applying Mulch to Soil Prevents Bed From Becoming Dry and Enables It to Absorb Moisture. Shallow cultivation is the same in effect as applying a mulch to the soil, as it prevents the bed from becoming dry, and enables it to absorb all the moisture from light Bhowers and dews. For May plants such cultivation will be sufficient without watering, but others, notably dahlias, must have plenty of water. Soap suds from the wash are excellent for dahlias, and should be applied by the pailful to make sure of reaching the roots. This matter of watering, right down to the roots of the plants, is very Important, Import-ant, and unless you can give enough to do that it will be better not to water wa-ter at all, but trust to shallow cultivation culti-vation only. Always use a watering pot, so that you can apply the water directly to the roots. Using a hose scatters the water too much. Water plants after sundown. Almost everybody grows asters. A top dressing of well rotted stable manure ma-nure will give nourishment to the plants, and also keep the soil around them moist. Liquid manure, not too strong, should be applied to the roots, but it should not wet the foliage. If this is done at intervals, large and well developed flowers will be the reward. re-ward. Sweet peas should be well cultivated. culti-vated. Bone meal, strewn along the rows and raked in, will help in promoting pro-moting vigorous growth. Manure water wa-ter is also very beneficial, but after using manure water one day use clear water the next Sometimes in dry seasons the flowers look faded and do not show in their true colors. To demedy this fault mix soot and water together, to about the consistency of milk, and apply at the roots. |