one crop that responds more favorably to the use of p^ t f or 



immediately available Nitrogen than early tomatoes. 



The influence of the use of Nitrate is not only shown in 

 the increase in the yield — -in some cases practically 

 doubling it — but in the improved quality of crop, and 

 because of the larger crop an increased maturity is vir- 

 tually secured. These are all points of extreme prac- 

 tical importance. The results of all the experiments 

 conducted in different parts of the country and in 

 different seasons show an average gain in yield of about 

 50 per cent., with an average increased value of crop 

 of about $100 per acre. 



In the growth of this crop two ^ 

 .! j " i i i- i i Methods ot 



methods are used, depending largely p ract i ce 



upon the character of the soil and its 

 previous treatment in reference to commercial fertili- 

 zers or manures. In the first, where the farmyard 

 manure and commercial fertilizers, rich in minerals, 

 have been used on previous crops, then Nitrogen in 

 the form of Nitrate only is used, and the application 

 ranges from 150 to 250 pounds per acre. By this 

 method the yields are not so large, but the crop is 

 usually earlier, and the net profit is quite as great as 

 if larger applications of manure or fertilizer were made 

 at the time of setting the plants. The object is early 

 tomatoes, and, under average conditions of season 

 and markets, any application of fertilizer or any prac- 

 tice which would tend to encourage a later growth 

 or longer season would reduce proportionately the net 

 profits. 



In the other method, farmyard manures are usu- 

 ally spread upon the soil in the fall or winter, thor- 

 oughly worked into the soil in the spring. A fertilizer 

 containing chiefly phosphoric acid and potash is applied 

 broadcast previous to setting the plants, and at the 

 time of setting an application of 100 to 150 pounds per 

 acre of Nitrate of Soda is applied around the hill or 

 over the row. After two or three weeks, depending 

 upon the season and the relative growth of the plants, 

 another application of Nitrate of Soda at the same 

 rate is made. This, because it minimizes the inter- 

 ruption in the feeding of the plant by furnishing im- 



