t in a bag of soot, and fill up with rain-water. After
settling, this will be ready for use. Liquid manure must not be given
when the soil is dry, but only after rain or a good watering. Soot
dusted over the beds is beneficial, and may also destroy a certain
amount of Mildew. The drainage from the farmyard should not be allowed
to waste, as is so often the case; but if well diluted it makes a good
liquid manure. Do not apply the fertiliser close to the stem, but
distribute over the whole ground. Remember when giving liquid manure the
same rule holds good, "Strong meat for men, milk for babes."

Strong growing varieties will stand more than weak ones, and no liquid
manure should be given to newly planted trees. A dressing of Basic Slag
in the autumn is recommended.

=Pests.=[14]--These are many, and the remedies are few and simple.
Caterpillars, large and small, must be hunted for daily and killed with
finger and thumb from April to July, however unpleasant the process may
be, or the most promising buds will be spoiled. For destroying Aphis,
which are very troublesome some years, a solution made by boiling
Quassia chips in water, and adding soft soap when cooling, is often
used; though "finger and thumb" drawn gently up the stem when the insect
is first seen, puts an end to those on the shoot; and finger and thumb
is even recommended for destroying Mildew on its first appearance,
though this cannot be done when there is a bad attack.

Nothing in my experience equals Flowers of Sulphur for Mildew, when
distributed by an "Ideal" powder bellows. This should be done quite
early in the morning, when there is a promise of a hot, sunny day. If
the wind is not too strong, the Sulphur will float through the plants
like a cloud of smoke, searching into every part. This should be
repeated once a week, and even before there is a sign of Mildew on the
leaves, prevention being better than cure. But I know no remedy that
will quite destroy it.

* * * * *

=Exhibiting.=--If the grower wishes to exhibit his flowers, he should
follow the instructions here given; and I would also advise the reading
of the late Rev. A. Foster Melliar's book on exhibiting, and the Rev. J.
H. Pemberton's--both most excellent books--which enter more fully into
particulars than space allows me to do.

The number of shoots having been reduced,[15] it will soon be time to
gradually take away all the buds, except the centre bud