The Canadian Horticulturist. 365 



months in advance of the time for planting in Canada, and they could not use 

 kainit at that time in large enough doses to give all the potash that they need. 

 But with the Canada planter the case is very different. His crop is planted 

 much later, and is to be grown all during the summer, when the conservation of 

 moisture in the soil is one of the most important matters to be considered in 

 connection with potato growing. It is a well known fact that kainit tends to 

 conserve moisture in the soil. Hence it is desirable to use it in places where 

 the crop grows through the summer. But, as we have said, the application of 

 the needed quantity in the spring may be for the time being detrimental to the 

 crop, we can see the importance of applying at least a large portion in the fall 

 at the time of breaking the land. The Southern growers of the early potato 

 crop use on an acre 200 lbs. of actual potash. To get this amount in the form 

 of kainit would involve the use of over 1,600 lbs. of kainit per acre, a larger 

 amount than could be safely used directly on the crop in spring. But it will be 

 found of great advantage to apply half of the needed potash as kainit in the fall, 

 and supply the remainder as muriate at the time of planting. Another crop in 

 which the plow should play an important part in the fall is the asparagus crop- 

 Here the plow should be used to ridge up the soil sharply over the rows, leaving 

 drainage furrows in the middle between the rows. These sharp ridges warm 

 through much earlier in the spring than flat land, and the earliness of the crop 

 is much enhanced. The old practice of using salt on asparagus was not entirely 

 without good reason, but we have found a better way, by which we get all 

 that the salt can do for the plant, and at the same time give it the potash it 

 needs. This is by using kainit very liberally in the fall. I have used full half 

 a ton per acre with decided profit. We spread it over the land before the fall 

 plowing, and then plow the ridges up over the rows of plants and get the salts 

 right where we want them. Then a dressing in the spring of manure or of some 

 nitrogenous fertilizer will result in a growth of asparagus that is seldom seen 

 without the fall ridging up and the heavy dose of potash. In the preparation of 

 the soil to be used in the cultivation of lettuce under glass in winter, we use the 

 more concentrated potash salts in the form of muriate, and never as kainit. In 

 fact we seldom use kainit as a spring application, but believe in it as an autumn 

 application for spring crops. 



W. F. Massev. 



Crimson Clover has now been successfully grown in all parts of the 

 Union with the best results, and is no longer an experimental crop. It is good 

 for hay, will yield two to three tons per acre, is valuable for seed, which it pro- 

 duces in large quantities, is good for fall and early spring pastures, and is the 

 only clover that remains green all through the winter, but its greatest value is in 

 its ability to store up plant food, and at the same time send down deep feeding 

 roots far in the subsoil, and bring to the surface elements of fertility that would 

 be otherwise lost. Crimson clover is an annual, and must be sown in its proper 

 season. This extends from the 1st of August until the last of October. About 

 ten quarts of seed is required to sow an acre. — Western Plowman. 



