252 GARDEN GUIDE 



Nitrate of Soda 



Nitrate of soda is valuable to use alone, or it can be mixed with its 

 equal weight of acid phosphate and used on any crops where tender- 

 ness of leaf is desirable. It should be used as a top dressing at the rate 

 of one ounce to the square yard in the early Spring, and again when the 

 plants are half grown. 



Most of these fertilizers, either the made up brands, or the separate 

 ingredients can be purchased at the seed stores in large cities and at 

 general stores in the country towns. 



Poultry Manure 



Poultry manure can be used effectively in the garden. It is a com- 

 plete fertilizer, but for crops hke Potatoes, Turnips, Beets, Onions, and 

 Beans, it is well to use some acid phosphate with it. Poultry manure 

 should be kept dry so that it can be scattered over the soil at the rate 

 of one pound to the square yard. Acid phosphate can be mixed with it 

 at the rate of twelve pounds to the hundred of poultry manure, or ap- 

 phed directly to the soil along with the poultry manure at the rate of 

 two ounces to the square yard. 



Lime 



Calcium or lime is quite valuable in gardens where green manures 

 are used considerably. It will also be of much benefit on vacant building 

 lots or fields intended to be used for gardens. Lime can now be obtained 

 from the same dealers as the fertilizers, either in the form of ground lime- 

 stone or hydrated (slaked) lime. Both of these forms are convenient 

 to apply. The hydrated lime is quicklime that has been slaked by the 

 action of steam. It is quick in its effect and should be used at the rate 

 of half a pound to the square yard of freshly plowed or dug soil. 

 The ground limestone should be used in the same way but at the rate 

 of one pound to the square yard. Lime is used to "sweeten" soil. For in- 

 stance, some soils become too rich owing to over-heavy manuring. 

 In such case, the manuring should stop for a season but a coating of 

 lime should be given instead. This of itself, is not a fertilizer; it un- 

 locks other plant food that is in the soil, making it available for the 

 roots. Lime ought not to be apphed along with manure (dung), but 

 be forked in early in the Spring. It has the property of making clay 

 more open or friable, and conversely, of firming a sandy soil. It neu- 

 tralizes the acids that are in soils. It is good for all vegetable soils. 



