Food for later growth or longer season would reduce proportionately 



Plants the net profits. 



s* In the other method, farmyard manures are usually, 



spread upon the soil in the fall or winter, thoroughly 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 applied. This, because it minimizes the interruption 

 in the feeding of the plant by furnishing immediately avail- 

 able Nitrogen, causes not only an increase in the yield and 

 marketable quality of the entire crop, but it materially in- 

 creases the quantity of early fruit. The results of four years' 

 experiments show that, by this method, the value of the 

 increased yield of what may be regarded as extra early fruit 

 averaged about $45 per acre. 



As in other cases, care should be used 

 How to Apply j n t k e a ppli cat i on o f Nitrate; it should not 



ltrate ' come in too close contact with the plants, 



and, if broadcasted after the plants are set, it should be done 

 when they are dry, so that all of the Nitrate may reach the 

 soil. Where a larger quantity is used, as, for example, 300 

 pounds or more, it is very desirable that fractional dressings 

 should be made, though care should be used not to make 

 the second application too late, as it encourages a later growth 

 of plants and retards maturity. 



The cabbage is a gross feeder, and the 

 Early Cabbage. Cr0 p can ut iii ze i ar g e quantities of plant- 

 food to good advantage. The experiments with this crop 

 show that even where the land has been fertilized with what 

 would be regarded as reasonable amounts of fertilizers adap- 

 ted for the purpose, extra dressings of Nitrate have given 

 very profitable returns. The yield has been increased from 

 40 to 80 per cent., and the net value of crop from $53 to $80 

 per acre. The experiments also show that what may be re- 

 garded as a large quantity of Nitrate, namely, 400 pounds 

 per acre, is superior to any smaller quantity, and further, 

 that this would better be applied in two rather than in a 

 greater number of fractional dressings, as the later applica- 



