SOIL PREPARATION 



15 



Mntioo or- 

 Wlin 



roc. ottp P[UPAB.ATIOIN 

 PL&Ct-D l!NI DOTIONl Of" DtO 



Fig. 4 



ment. Nitrogen is available in nitrate of soda, stable manure, sulphate 

 of ammonia, and dried blood. Phosphorous can be added in the soil 

 in the form of acid phosphate or bone meal. A layer of raw bone left 

 to rot in the bottom of the planting bed will answer the same purpose. 

 Potassium can be supplied in the form of potassium, sulphate, kainit, 

 or unleached wood ashes. 



APPLYING FERTILIZERS 



Manure is generally applied at the rate of 16 tons to the acre, 

 which means about a two-horse load to a space 50 by 50 feet or a 

 2-bushel wheelbarrow load every 4 square yards (6 by 6 feet). This 

 is a good standard for most borders. The manure can be spaded in 

 and mixed with the soil or left in a layer in the bottom of the planting 

 bed, or used purely as a top dressing. 



Fertilizers whose substance disintegrates slowly should be applied 

 at a time when they can be thoroughly worked into the soil. Lime 

 and fertilizers that become quickly soluble are generally applied as top 



dressings. 



When the fertilizers have such strength that a little goes a long 

 ways, as is usually the case with commercial fertilizers, an even distri- 

 bution can be obtained by mixing the fertilizer with sand or fine earth 

 before applying. Care should be taken not to mix certain materials 

 for application. Lime should not be mixed with manure, bone meal 

 or acid phosphate, but should be applied separately as a top dressing. 

 Barnyard manure should not be mixed with lime in any form, nitrates 

 or Thomas Slag. Acid phosphate should not be mixed with forms of 

 lime, Norwegian nitrate or Thomas Slag. 



