64 VEGETABLE FORCING 



clay loam (limestone soil) before starting the fall crop of 

 lettuce, and there was no evidence that the application 

 was too heavy. In the clay and silt soils it is practically 

 impossible to use too much rotten manure, and it is 

 seldom that manuring is overdone in the lighter soils. 

 The soils in many of the large establishments, where 

 vegetables have been forced for a long term of years, 

 seem to be too loose and porous, and to be lacking in 

 body, but the excellent crops which are harvested at 

 regular intervals do not indicate any fault in the composi- 

 tion or character of the soils. When rotten manure is to 

 be applied to benches or solid beds in small greenhouses, 

 two or three pounds may be used to each square foot of 

 space. 



Liquid manure is often used to advantage in small 

 greenhouses. It is easily prepared by placing about a 

 bushel of fresh horse manure or old, unleached cow 

 manure in a half barrel of water. The contents should be 

 stirred occasionally for a few days. Before making appli- 

 cations, dilute with three or four parts of water to one of 

 the liquid. It may be used for all of the greenhouse vege- 

 tables without any danger of injury. In small green- 

 houses it is customary to pour a cupful around each plant 

 which may be in need of nourishment. The plan is too 

 slow and tedious for use in large establishments, where 

 nitrate of soda is preferred, if special feeding is regarded 

 as necessary. The more economical plan, however, is to 

 prepare the soil with sufficient plant food, so that subse- 

 quent applications will be unnecessary, except for the 

 mulching of tomatoes and cucumbers. In some of the 

 large floral establishments liquid manure is prepared in 

 large tanks, from which it is piped to the various houses 

 and applied with a hose and nozzle. 



The functions of lime. The use of lime in the forcing 

 of vegetables is on the increase. Apparently it is just as 

 important perhaps even more important in greenhouse 



