84 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



In addition to the foregoing, which should be well distributed 

 through the soil before planting, additional surface scattering of 

 nitrate of soda at the rate of 100 Ibs. per acre may be made during 

 the early growth of the plants. 



Nitrate of Soda. The nitrate of soda is the old reliance of 

 gardeners as promotive of quick, free growth and the plant may be 

 pushed early in its growth when perhaps temperatures are too low 

 for full action of other supplies of nitrogen, which the soil may 

 contain. Careful application should be made, after the seed has 

 germinated, during the early stages of growth of the plant which 

 it is desired to stimulate. The time of application does not depend 

 upon the calendar but upon the ability of the plant to use it to the 

 best advantage. An excessive application may kill the plants and 

 even distribution is essential, either over the whole surface or along 

 the row, at the rate of 200 to 500 pounds per acre, according to 

 the ability of the plant to use it to the grower's advantage. The 

 nitrate is distributed to the roots by the use of very little water; 

 too heavy rainfall or irrigation may carry it away from them. 



O. M. Morris of Los Angeles gives these hints for garden use 

 of nitrate: 



A light application in furrows each side of the rows will stimulate more 

 rapid growth. Probably the most satisfactory method is to scatter the 

 crystals of nitrate of soda lightly along in the irrigating furrow after the 

 water has been shut off, using five pounds to three or four hundred feet of 

 row. Then turn the soil back over this wet furrow, when the nitrate will 

 be quickly dissolved and will go directly to the roots. Blood meal applied 

 in like manner will give similarly good results, as will also many of the 

 commercial fertilizers with soluble ingredients. 



Application must be made intelligently and sparingly at first 

 until the grower finds how much he can use to secure best results 

 with the particular plant he desires to push along. 



