The Question Box. 129 



plant. If the gentleman who asked that question will state what 

 vine is meant, I may be able more fully to answer it. 



The Questioner. — I had reference to cucumbers. 



Mr. Rice. — We grow them for pickles, using a large shovelful 

 of stable manure under each hill. If anything more is required, 

 we apply some nitrate of soda, harrowed in when planting the 

 seed. If applied after the plants appear, unless great care is 

 taken, it will burn the foliage. Probably 200 pounds of nitrate 

 of soda will be enough for an acre. We use 100 pounds on an 

 acre of strawberries. 



Question. — What is the best fertilizer to produce fruit? 



Mr. Rica — Ordinarily speaking, we need all three elements 

 of plant food for most crops in most soils. The only way is to 

 experiment and find out. For some crops in some soils, only 

 nitrogen is needed; in others, both potash and phosphoric acid 

 should be applied. On our soil at home there are more than 

 55,000 pounds of potash on a surface foot of an acre, but it needs 

 both nitrogen and phosphoric acid. Read the language of the 

 plant; study it and the effects of fertilizer on it. In this way, 

 and in this way only, can we tell what is most required. No one 

 can come here and lay down an iron-clad rule for fertilizing any 

 crop. 



Question. — What is the best commercial fertilizer for straw- 

 berries? 



Mr. Smith. — That is a broad question. I cannot answer it 

 without knowing the condition of the soil. If you have a good 

 clover sod, well fitted, not much nitrogen will be required. As 

 a rule, a fertilizer made up of three per cent, nitrogen, seven of 

 phosphoric acid and nine of potash gives good results. This is 

 Dr. Van Slyke's formula. Conditions, however, and. different 

 soils may require a different formula. 



Question.— What fertilizer would you recommend for grass land 

 which w^as in hay ; that is, what chemical fertilizer ? 



Mr. Smith. — A dressing of 100 pounds of nitrate of soda per 

 acre, applied early in the spring, will, no doubt, give best results, 

 as it is very soluble and at once available for the use of the plant. 



To Mr. Stevens. — Give a good formula of fertilizer for straw- 

 berries? 



Answer. — Wood ashes are valuable. Do not put on nitrate of 

 soda, except early in the spring, else it will burn the foliage. A 

 fertilizer made of 400 pounds of muriate of potash, 400 pounds of 



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