make use of all of the other food in the soil, and be able to ^^^^ ^°^ 



overcome, in a great degree, any unfavorable conditions that ^°^^ 



may prevail later in the season. The natural tendency of ^^7 



the plant to absorb food is gratified, and a maximum crop 



is the result. 



This is a crop of very considerable im- i? i t ki 



I 1 1' ■ 1 ' jL/3.riy id.Di6 



portance m market garden districts, and in ^ 



^ . . . ^ r Li -ri Turnips, 



certain sections is very prohtable. 1 he 



profit, other things being equal, is measured by the earliness 



v^ath which the crop may be gotten into the market. Owing 



to the fact that the crop is planted very early, often before 



the weather is settled, heavy dressings of soluble "Nitrogen 



at time of planting would be liable to considerable loss from 



leaching. Hence fractional dressings have proved the most 



satisfactory. The gain* obtained in the experiments from 



the use of Nitrate have ranged from 30 to over 100 per cent., 



according to the amount applied and method of application. 



The increased value of crop, due to the Nitrate, averaged 



about ^30 per acre — a very handsome return from the use of 



the extra fertilizer. 



Where soils have been previously liberally m fh H f 



fertilized, particularly with the mineral ele- , ,. ^. 



, ^ -^ , . ^ P ... Application, 



ments, the recommendations tor fertilizers, 



which have in practice proved very satisfactory, are as fol- 

 lows: Prepare the soil early and apply a light dressing of 

 manure, either previous to plowing or after plowing, and 

 harrow in well, and apply a commercial fertilizer rich in 

 minerals, say, with a composition of 2 per cent. Nitrogen, 

 8 per cent, phosphoric acid and 5 per cent, potash, at the 

 rate of 1,000 pounds per acre. After the plants have ger- 

 minated and well started apply, broadcast, 150 pounds per 

 acre of Nitrate of Soda, following this in two or three weeks 

 with a second application of 150 pounds. The first dressing 

 will serve to stimulate leaf growth and a deep penetration 

 of root, and the second dressing will encourage a rapid 

 growth of the turnip, so necessary if high quality is to be 

 obtained. Applications made later than one month after 

 the seeding usually encourage too large a leaf growth, thus 

 reducing the yield of early crop. In the experiments three 

 equal dressings of 133 pounds each reduced the yield by 

 over 3,000 pounds per acre below that which was obtained 

 in two equal dressings of the same amount as suggested 



