amount was used. The increased value per acre of the crop ^ood for 

 from the best use of the Nitrate was over ^250. 



The celery crop is expensive, both in m th d f ^^^ 



plants and in labor, and since the cost of . ,. ^. 

 S . •1111 Application, 



these Items is the same whether the crop is 



large or small, intensive systems of feeding the crop usually 

 give excellent returns. The crop is also very much improved 

 in quality if the conditions are made favorable for continuous 

 and rapid growth, hence an abundance of moisture and of 

 immediately available food are prime essentials. The 

 former can be controlled to a large extent by good methods 

 of culture, but the best culture of the best soils is not capable 

 of providing the necessary food, and, of the essential elements 

 of food, Nitrogen seems to be the one that contributes espe- 

 cially to rapidity of growth and to the formation of stalk 

 which possesses that peculiar crispness which in so marked 

 a degree measures marketable quality. Soils that are deep, 

 moist and rich in organic matter are best suited for the crop; 

 these should be heavily manured, say, at the rate of ten to 

 fifteen tons per acre, and should also receive liberal amounts 

 of high-grade commercial fertilizer, at the rate of 600 to 800 

 pounds per acre, all applied broadcast previous to setting the 

 plants. After the plants are well started, apply 200 pounds 

 per acre of Nitrate of Soda along the row, and, if the weather 

 is dry, cultivate it in, though, ordinarily, the moisture in the 

 soil is sufficient to cause an immediate distribution of the 

 salt; and in three to four weeks make a second application of 

 Nitrate of the same amount and in the same manner. The 

 two applications of Nitrate, of 200 pounds each, will, it is 

 believed, give, on the average, better returns than smaller 

 amounts or a greater number of applications, though the 

 conditions of season may warrant such changes from this 

 method as the judgment of the grower may dictate. 



The growinp; of peppers has become a -^ 



. I _ r r ^ Peppers. 



considerable industry in market garden dis- 

 tricts in recent years. Studies of the special needs of the 

 crop show that, on good soils, well adapted for the plant, 

 additional dressings of Nitrate are necessary for best results 

 — the gain in yield averaging 35 per cent., and the increased 

 value of crop due to the added Nitrates averaging $30 per 

 acre. A large quantity — 300 pounds per acre — seems to be 

 much superior to any less amount, and, owing to the fact 



