PRACTICAL GARDENING 



meal, and Peruvian guano, but for the quick- 

 est and best results nitrate of soda is the best 

 source of this most valuable fertilizer. 



There are no rules as to the frequency of ap- 

 plication, as it all depends on the health of the 

 plant and the desired results looked for, but 

 one thing that must be remembered is that fer- 

 tilizer must be applied in very small quantities. 

 If the leaves of peas or beans or other plants 

 are turning yellow before the crop has matured 

 the crop is calling for nitrogen. Any fertilizer 

 containing available nitrogen is especially valu- 

 able for lettuce, endive, celery, onions and other 

 stem or leaf crops. 



Phosphoric acid if lacking in the soil will 

 cause the crop to mature slowly and may in 

 some instances cause a complete failure. This 

 is the ripening element and may be secured in 

 raw or steamed bone meal, rock phosphate, or 

 Thomas slag, all of which vary in the available 

 phosphoric acid. The rate of application de- 

 pends on the character of the soil, sandy and 

 muck soil usually requiring more phosphoric 



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