96 The Principles of Vegetable -Gardening 



and then forking them over two or more times during 

 the season (Fig. 25). If the materials are thoroughly 

 disintegrated and mixed, they are in fit condition to be 

 put on the land and they readily become an integral 

 part of the soil. Materials like tomato vines, potato 

 vines and even corn stalks, which are too raw and coarse 

 to apply directly to the land, may be made into useful 

 and valuable material when they have been composted 

 for several months or a year; although if serious dis- 

 eases infest the refuse, the material would better be 

 burned. The addition of quick -lime hastens the de- 

 composition of raw. materials. The florist, who must 

 have his soils in ideal condition, is familiar with 

 methods of composting, for he usually provides his 

 soils a year in advance. 



Commercial fertilizers. The kind and amount of 

 fertilizers to be used are to be determined by several 

 circumstances : (1) the earliness or quickness with 

 which the crop is to be obtained ; (2) the intensity 

 of the operations to which the man is committed ; (3) 

 the character of the land as regards tilth and texture; 

 (4) the character of the land as regards richness in 

 plant -food ; (5) the kind or species of crops to be 

 raised. 



There is. no infallible means by which one can 

 determine what fertilizers he shall apply. He must 

 study his conditions and judge as best he can. A 

 little experiment with different kinds of fertilizer 

 on two or three of the leading crops at one side of 

 the plantation, is the readiest means of answering the 

 question. 



