I40 FERTILITY AND FERTILIZER HINTS 



crops and on some soils. That which is applied in the drill or 

 hill furnishes plant food during the first growth before the roots 

 are developed and that which is sown broadcast helps the later 

 growth when the roots spread out. In this system of applying 

 fertilizers it is perhaps better to apply most of the fertilizer 

 broadcast. When farm manure is used it may all be spread 

 broadcast and the fertilizer used to supplement it, which is no 

 doubt quick acting, put in the drill or hill. Potatoes, corn and 

 market garden crops are often fertilized in this way. 



With small grain, roots and other crops with small root 

 systems, fertilizers are often applied wholly in the drill or hill. 

 Great care should be taken in applying fertilizer in this way to 

 keep the fertilizer away from the seed. Most fertilizers contain 

 some nitrate of soda, potash salts, or other materials that will 

 injure the seed if they come in contact with it. Therefore a 

 little earth should separate the seed from the fertilizer. The 

 fertilizer distributors usually cover the fertilizer sufficiently to 

 protect the seeds. When fertilizer is applied in the hills it 

 should be spread over the place where the hill is to be and not 

 applied all in one place. Earth should be spread over it as in 

 drill application. 



When fertilizer is to be applied during the growing season 

 it may be distributed on both sides of the plants to the center 

 of the row and worked in with a cultivator. On many hoed 

 crops this method is used. It is also advisable on light soils 

 that are subject to leaching. On these soils sufficient fertilizer 

 may be applied at planting time to give the crop a start and the 

 remainder during those periods in the growing season when 

 the crop needs nourishment or wishes to be forced for an early 

 market. 



When fertilizers are applied to trees and bushes they should 

 be distributed in a circle around the tree ; the radius of which 

 is equal to the height of the tree or bush. They should be 

 worked into the soil by shallow cultivation. The feeding roots 

 of many trees are near the surface and extend to quite a dis- 

 tance from the base of the tree so that by applying the fer- 



