F pilnts Pl wm g or a ft er plowing, and harrow in well, and apply 



a commercial fertilizer rich in minerals, say, with a 



s 6 composition of 2 per cent. Nitrogen, 8 per cent, phos- 

 phoric acid and 5 per cent, potash, at the rate of 1,000 

 pounds per acre. After the plants have germinated and 

 are well started, apply, broadcast, 150 pounds per acre 

 of Nitrate of Soda, following this in two or three weeks 

 with a second application of 150 pounds. The first 

 dressing will serve to stimulate leaf growth and a deep 

 penetration of root, and the second dressing will en- 

 courage a rapid growth of the turnip, so necessary if 

 high quality is to be obtained. Applications made 

 later than one month after the seeding usually encour- 

 age too large a leaf growth, thus reducing the yield of 

 early crop. In the experiments three equal dressings 

 of 133 pounds each reduced the yield by over 3,000 

 pounds per acre below that which was obtained in two 

 equal dressings of the same amount as suggested here- 

 with. The e Tect of the third dressing seemed to be to 

 induce growth of top rather than root. The increase 

 in the maturity that is, the quantity of early crop- 

 will be directly increased, in so far as the Nitrate in- 

 duces a larger crop, which is one of the first results of 

 its application. 



Very great progress has been made 

 in the growth of sweet corn for the 

 early market, due both to the development of harder 

 varieties and to greater care in the selection and use of 

 fertilizing materials. These hardy varieties of sweet 

 corn are now frequently planted as early as March as 

 far north as New Jersey, and, when planted so early, 

 the soil supplies of Nitrogen are yet unfavorable for 

 the change of organic or other forms of Nitrogen into 

 the Nitrate form. Hence, Nitrate should constitute a 

 large part of the nitrogenous food of the plant if early 

 maturity is to be accomplished. Practice has shown 

 that, by small fractional dressings of Nitrate early, 

 maximum results may be obtained. In the prepara- 

 tion of the soil for the growth of this crop, therefore, 

 considerable organic nitrogenous material may be 

 used to advantage. 



A good practice is to manure the soil, either during 



