266 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



some plants. So I would not use but little at a time, say fifty to 

 seventy-five pounds to the acre; but I would not use it when the 

 foliage is wet. Wait till it is dry, then apply it close to the plants. 

 Mr. Dawley. — Mix your nitrate with plaster or earth, before 

 applying. 



What fertilizer is best for spinach, lettuce and celery, when one does 

 not have stable manure? 



Mr. Cook. — I do not grow these vegetables, except for family 

 use, but I have learned that we must fertilize a crop according to 

 its needs. Lettuce is a plant that requires much nitrogen. If 

 enough is given, it will be tender; but there may be enough nitro- 

 gen in the soil now; that is, as much as the plant can assimilate. 

 Therefore, it would be money thrown away to add more of this 

 element. As a rule, there is potash enough in the soil for most 

 crops. Phosphoric acid is usually most needed. You will get it 

 best from South-Carolina rock. If you need more nitrogen for the 

 crops you mention, I think that the best source will be nitrate of 

 soda. It gives the plant an early, quick start. But, no matter 

 what crops or plants we grow, best results are obtained from fer- 

 tilizers when there is a good per cent, of humus — vegetable mold — 

 in the soil. To know just what fertilizer is best, we must study 

 the habits of the crop to know what it needs, then strive to pro- 

 vide it. 



Hen manure 4 parts, fine stable manure 2 parts, wood ashes 1 part, 

 mixed thoroughly and rotted — on what crop and how would you apply It? 



Mr. Cook. — I would not make such a mixture. Leave out the 

 aehes, as they would unlock and release all the nitrogen in the 

 manure. Put in some South-Carolina rock and potash, then apply 

 it at once. I believe that the ideal way to apply manure is in the 

 fall, if one can save it all until that time; but we draw ours all out 

 and apply it as fast as made, usually putting it on sod where we 

 are to plant corn. 



Mr. Terry. — I believe that Mr. Cook is right. We store all of 

 our manure under a shed, and keep it wet so that there will be do 

 loss of nitrogen by fire-fang; then draw it out and put it on our 

 sod, in the fall. We drew out 350 loads last fall. 



A Farmer. — Why not put it on the wheat? 



