Food for herewith. The effect of the third dressing seemed to be to 



! induce growth of top rather than root. The increase in the 



^^^ maturity — that is, the quantity of early crop — will be directly 

 increased, in so far as the Nitrate induces a larger crop, which 

 is one of the first results of its application. 

 „ „ Very great progress has been made in the 



growth of sweet corn for the early market, 

 due both to the development of hardier varieties and to 

 greater care in the selection and use of fertilizing materials. 

 These hardy varieties of sweet corn are now frequently 

 planted as early as March as far north as New Jersey, and, 

 when planted so early, the soil supplies of Nitrogen are yet 

 unfavorable for the change of organic or other forms of 

 Nitrogen into the Nitrate form. Hence Nitrate should con- 

 stitute a large part of the nitrogent)us food of the plant if 

 early maturity is to be accomplished. Owing to this fact, 

 the utilization of the Nitrate by the plant is liable to be less 

 than if applied later, as the season for heavy rains, which are 

 liable to carry away part of the soluble Nitrogen, is not yet 

 over, besides, the weather is not warm enough to cause a 

 rapid growth. Practice, however, has shown that, by small 

 fractional dressings of Nitrate early, maximum results may 

 be obtained. In the preparation of the soil for the growth 

 of this crop, therefore, considerable organic nitrogenous 

 material may be used to advantage. 



A good practice is to manure the soil, either 

 ^ ° ^^ during; the fall or winter, with from ten to 



twelve tons per acre, and apply previous to 

 planting or setting the plants (in many cases the plants are 

 started in the plant-house), a fertilizer rich in phosphoric 

 acid and potash, also containing organic forms of Nitrogen. 

 At time of planting use a compost in the hill, and use the 

 Nitrate as a side dressing after the corn is well rooted. The 

 advantage of the compost and organic forms of Nitrogen is 

 that they supply the soil with an abundance of readily- 

 fermentable material, which, to some extent, warms the soil, 

 besides containing substances useful in later stages of growth. 

 Nitrate may be applied in three dressings, at the rate of lOO 

 pounds per acre in each dressing, and the dressings should 

 be so distributed as to cover the season of growth — that is, 

 as soon as plants begin to form ears the last application of 

 Nitrogen may be made, which encourages a quick growth 



