468 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



hence on soils of good natural fertility the application of nitrogen 

 at the right time and in the form of a nitrate results in a largely in- 

 creased cron. The fact here stated has led certain eminent scientists 

 to regard nitrogen as a dominant or ruling element for this class of 

 plants, a conclusion which is in the main correct where the limita- 

 tions are properly understood. 



The Leguminous Crops. Clover, peas, beans, vetches, etc., be- 

 longing to the class of plants known as legumes, should also be re- 

 garded as a distinct class. They possess powers of acquiring food 

 which, so far as we know, are not common to any other class of culti- 

 vated plants. They do not depend altogether upon soil sources for 

 their nitrogen, but draw this element partly from the air, and they 

 make almost ravenous use of the mineral constituents, particularly 

 potash and lime. A knowledge of these facts is not only useful in 

 indicating the kind of manures to be used upon them, viz., an abund- 

 ance of the mineral constituents only, but suggests that the growth 

 of these crops must result in the enrichment of soils in the expensive 

 element, nitrogen, so essential for crops whose exclusive source of 

 supply is the soil. 



Root and Tuber Crops. These may also be regarded as a class 

 which, because of their habits of growth, are as a rule unable to make 

 ready use of the insoluble mineral constituents of the soil, and hence 

 for full development require an abundance of all the fertilizing con- 

 stituents in readily available forms. Of the three classes of fertilizing 

 constituents, the nitrogen is especially useful for the slow-growing 

 beets and mangels; phosphates are required in abundance for the 

 turnip; and potatoes, both white and sweet, respond favorably to 

 liberal dressings of potash. Thus, while the fertilizers should con- 

 tain all three elements, certain of the crops, because of their pecu- 

 liarities of growth, require certain of them in greater relative amounts 

 and in immediately available forms. 



The object of the growth, too, whether for the immature produce 

 or for the fully developed plant, is a matter worthy of careful con- 

 sideration. In other words, shall the fertilizing be of such a char- 

 acter as to stimulate and force an unnatural and artificial growth, 

 or such as assists in the natural development of the plant? That 

 the specific function of nitrogenous manures is to encourage and 

 even force leaf development is a fact not disputed by the highest 

 authority ; hence their use in stimulating unusual growth is of the 

 greatest importance in growing market-garden crops, in order that 

 the tenderness and succulence, which is the measure of quality in 

 most of those products, may be secured. 



Orchard Trees. Fruit trees are slow-growing plants, and there- 

 fore do not need quick-acting fertilizers as a rule. They appro- 

 priate plant food very slowly, and highly soluble manures, such as 

 nitrate of soda, are liable to be washed out of the soil Jttkhout being 

 utilized. For this reason the use of nitrate of soda i^ot advised, 

 except where the growth of nursery stock is to be forced or where 

 bearing trees exhibit a lack of luxuriance in foliage. The old and 

 still common practice of fertilizing fruit trees every few years with 



