HORTirnLTURE. 251 



"Whether mulching shall be used in a particular case depends upon the vegeta- 

 l)les to he grown. Early spring vegetables requiring only a few cultivations can 

 usually be grown mure cheaply l)y cultivation than by mulching. Furthermore, 

 very early mulching, before the ground has l)ecome thoroughly warm, is apt to re- 

 tard the development of the vegetables. On the other liand, summer or fall vege- 

 tables that require frefjuent cultivation throughout the season are grown as a rule 

 with less labor liy nndching than by cultivation." 



If vegetables can be mulched in the summer after they have been given a few cul- 

 tivations, it is believed much better results will be secured than by the now com- 

 mon method of entire neglect when the rush of summer work comes on. 



Field experiments with, nitrate of soda on market garden crops, K. K. \'oou- 

 HEES {Keir Jersey St <t.<<. Bui. 164, pp. l-h'-S, pi. 1). — An account of further work in 

 the use of extra amounts of nitrate of soda for carrots, cabbage, celery, and cucum- 

 Iters grown on ground already heavily fertilized (E. 8. R., 14, 247). The experi- 

 ments were also planned to study the value of different amounts and fractional 

 methods of apy)lication. 



Further work with carrots seems to confirm the results reported in 1901 to the 

 effect that extra applications of nitrate of soda have a depressing effect on this 

 crop, the yields being considerablj' less where additional amounts of nitrate of soda 

 were used than where it was omitted. 



Cabbage has again been greatly benefited by the use of extra amoinits of nitrate 

 of soda. The quantity has been greatly increased and the quality improved. The 

 average increased yield on all the plats receiving additional quantities of nitrate of 

 soda has been about 150 per cent more than where no additional amount was used. 

 Whether the nitrate should be given in 2 or 3 api)lications was not brought out very 

 clearly. When 300 lbs. of nitrate of soda per acre was used the best results were 

 secured when it was distributed in 3 ajiplications. But when 400 lbs. was applied, 

 2 applications resulted most advantageously. Larger profits resulted from the appli- 

 cation of 400 lbs. per acre than from 300 lbs. In this experiment it is shown that 

 the use of each 100 lbs. of nitrate of so<la resulted in an increased yield of from |17 

 to $21.76. Since the price of nitrate of soda seldom exceeds $2.25 per 100 ll)s., the 

 profitableness of its use is plainly seen. 



The most striking example of the value of additional amounts of nitrate of soda 

 has l;)een obtained with celery. The increased yields with its use have varied from 

 6,000 to 18,900 lbs. per acre, and the quality and selling price of the celery have been 

 improved. Each dollar invested in nitrate of soda for this crop has given a return 

 of from $25.47 to $39.05. There was a lack of uniformity in regard to the amoimtsof 

 nitrate of soda used and the methods of application. When 300 lbs. was used per 

 acre the best results were secured when it was applied in 3 equal applications, but 

 when 400 lbs. was used the best results were secured from 2 applications. The 

 experiment is believed to show that where the land is reasonably fertile and has 

 received the ordinary dressing of manure and fertilizer, the use of nitrate of soda at 

 the rate of 300 lbs. per acre in 3 equal applications is sufficient. 



Cucumbers were grown in 1902 f( )r making mustard pickles, and the crop was allowed 

 to ripen before any were picked. The field was first fertilized with conq)lete ferti- 

 lizers, and then a test made of the value of additional amounts of nitrate of soda. 

 The increased yield of ^11 the plats, due to the use of nitrate of soda, was 86.5 per 

 cent. The best results were secured when 300 lbs. of nitrate of soda was used per 

 acre in 3 applications, the increased yield in this instance over the control plat being 

 126 per cent. 



The final conclusions for the year's work are the same as those of 1901 (E. S. R., 

 14, p. 248), to the effect that after a crop has been fertilized witli a complete fer- 

 tilizer according to the usual custom, an additional amount of nitrate of soda may 



