When we consider the fact that most plants require Foo^^ ^o*" 

 and take up about 75 per cent, of their total Nitrate Ammo- ^^^°*^ 

 niate during the earlier stages of their growth and that Nitro- 79 

 gen is the element most largely entering into the building 

 up of the life principle (or protoplasm) of all plants, it is plain 

 that we cannot afford to jeopardize the chances of growing 

 crops by having only an insufficient supply of immediately 

 available Nitrogen when it is most needed. 



Tomatoes. 



Tomatoes are successfully grown on all soils, excepting 

 very light sand or a very heavy clay; with irrigation, they 

 may be grown profitably on light sandy soils. The soil 

 must be plowed deeply, and thoroughly worked. It is 

 generally best to buy plants from a reputable grower, unless 

 the crop is planted on a large scale for canning, in which 

 case plants are grown under special instructions of the 

 cannery. The main feature in profitable tomato growing is 

 to maintain a rapid, steady growth. The soil should be 

 kept pulverized at the surface as a mulch, for the crop uses 

 enormous quantities of water. The plants continue bear- 

 ing until frost, hence the earlier fruiting commences the 

 heavier the crop through simply having a longer period in 

 bearing. Ten tons per acre is by no means an unusual 

 yield, but plant food must be used with a free hand. 



The New Jersey Experiment Station made an experi- 

 ment with different forms of ammoniates on this crop, and 

 the Nitrated ammoniate (Nitrate of Soda) not only pro- 

 duced the largest crops, but also the largest quantity of 

 *' early" tomatoes, and the lowest per cent, of culls. The 

 yield was twelve per cent, greater than that from sulphate 

 of ammonia, and sixty-eight per cent, greater than that from 

 dried blood. As soon as the plants are well rooted, top- 

 dress with 200 to 300 pounds of Nitrate of Soda per acre, 

 worked into the soil about the plants. Farm-yard manure 

 may be used on this crop when grown for canning, but 

 the results are always doubtful, as a continued stretch of 

 dry weather may injure the crop through drying out the soil 

 by the large quantity of vegetable matter mixed with it. 

 However rich the soil may be, or however freely chemical 

 fertilizers may have been used, the top-dressing of Nitrate 



