COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS AND THE MARKET GARDEN 195 



of such crops as cabbages, cauliflower and other things of which the foliage 

 above ground forms the important part, for we have seen that an abundant 

 and readily available supply of nitrogen is essential to great leaf develop- 

 ment. Then, too, with many of the crops of the market garden, potash is a 

 very important element, and some liberal addition of this must be made, 

 even in soils, which for the ordinary purposes of the farmer, are sufficiently 

 supplied with this form of plant food. The size and starchiness of the 

 potato depends rather on the presence of an abundant supply of potash than 

 on the amount of nitrogen present, while many of the foliage crops, like 

 lettuce, require liberal supplies of the same. 



On the other hand the cabbage crop, while needing a plentiful supply 

 of nitrogen, is especially benefited by a large application of phosphoric acid 

 rather than of potash especially. 



HOME MIXING ESSENTIAL TO THE MARKET GARDENER. 



Owing to the varied manurial requirements of his crops, and the abun- 

 dant supply which he must have, the home mixing of fertilizers is of far 

 more importance to the market gardener than to the general farmer, though 

 valuable to both. To insure success in the growing of vegetables, gardeners 

 must understand the requirements of their crops as to the proportions of 

 the various plant foods they need, and this proportioning can best be done 

 by the gardener himself from the purchase of the various materials best 

 adapted to his purposes. All the large truck farmers of the South Atlantic 

 coast mix their own fertilizers, many of them using such large quantities 

 that they have erected houses and machinery for the purpose. In the follow- 

 ing chapters I will give my experience in the treatment of the crops usually 

 grown by market gardeners, and their fertilizer requirements, North and 

 South, since in this respect there will be some variation with latitude and 

 climate. 



