THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 221 



at best, and are not satisfied unless the returns from the investment 

 in fertilizers are disproportionately large. We very often hear the 

 statement that by the use of certain fertilizers the crop is doubled 

 or tripled, as if this were a - remarkable occurrence, and partook of 

 the nature of a mystery. Such results are not mysterious; they 

 can be readily explained. In an experiment on celery it is shown 

 that the weight of celery from an application of 400 pounds per 

 acre of nitrate of soda is two and one-half times greater than on 

 the land upon which no nitrate was used, and that very great profit 

 followed its use. This result is not mysterious the nitrogen ap- 

 plied, if all had been used by the crop, would have given a still 

 greater increase; it simply shows that where no extra nitrogen had 

 been applied the plant was not able to obtain enough to make the 

 crop what the conditions of the season and soil, in other respects, 

 permitted. These favorable conditions, however, are not uniform, 

 and variations in return from definite application must be expected. 

 It is quite possible to have a return of $50 per acre from the use 

 of $5 worth of nitrate of soda on crops of high value, as, for ex- 

 ample, early tomatoes, beets, cabbage, etc. This is an extraordinary 

 return for the money invested and labor involved; still, if the 

 value of the increased crop from its use was but $10, it should be 

 regarded as a profitable investment, since no more land is required, 

 and but little more capital with this return. The waste of nitrogen 

 does not result in loss. 



DANGER OF LOSS OF NITRATES BY LEACHING. 



The chief difficulties in the use of nitrate of soda are due to 

 promptness in its solubility and availability. The fact that it is so 

 soluble carries with it the very grave danger that losses by leaching 

 may occur if the conditions of soil and crop at the time of its 

 application are not favorable for a rapid absorption of the nitrate by 

 the plant. This danger is- greater if it is applied to the soil before 

 rapid growth, when there is a limited number of plants that have 

 not made much growth, or whose roots have not taken possession of 

 the soil, as in the case of the vegetable crops. In meadows, on the 

 other hand, or in grain crops, where there are a large number of 

 plants per unit of area, and in orchards or berry patches, where 

 there are fewer plants, but a wider distribution of the feeding roots, 

 losses are not so liable to occur. There may be, therefore, great 

 disappointment in the returns from the use of nitrate of soda, if 

 opinions as to its usefulness are based entirely upon its availability. 

 Nevertheless, because no unknown conditions enter in, in refer- 

 ence to its availability, it is possible to avoid, in a great degree, the 

 losses liable to occur, and thus to secure a maximum return from 

 the application of this form of nitrogen. 



THE INFLUENCE OF QUANTITY APPLIED AND METHOD OF 

 APPLICATION. 



If the quantity applied is too small to meet the demands of the 

 crop, unless all seasonal conditions are favorable, the chances are 

 that the results will not be completely satisfactory, as weather con- 

 ditions are not likely to be perfect; it may be too wet or too dry, too 



