Food for the use of Nitrate have ranged from 30 to over 100 per cent., 



Plants according to the amount applied and method of application. 



54 The increased value of crop, due to the Nitrate, averaged 



about $30 per acre a very handsome return from the use of 



the extra fertilizer. 



Where soils have been previously lib- 

 erally fertilized, particularly with the 

 Application. mineral elements, the recommendations for 

 fertilizers, which have in practice proved very satisfactory, 

 are as follows : Prepare the soil early and apply a light dress- 

 ing of manure, either previous to plowing or after plowing, 

 and harrow in well, and apply a commercial fertilizer rich 

 in minerals, say, with a composition of 2 per cent. Nitrogen, 

 8 per cent, phosphoric acid and 5 per cent, potash, at the rate 

 of 1,000 pounds per acre. After the plants have germinated 

 and well started apply, broadcast, 150 pounds per acre of 

 Nitrate of Soda, following this in two or three weeks with 

 a second application of 150 pounds. The first dressing will 

 serve to stimulate leaf growth and a deep penetration of root, 

 and the second dressing will encourage a rapid growth of the 

 turnip, so necessary if high quality is to be obtained. Appli- 

 cations made later than one month after the seeding usually 

 encourage too large a leaf growth, thus reducing the yield of 

 early crop. In the experiments three equal dressings of 133 

 pounds each reduced the yield by over 3,000 pounds per acre 

 below that which was obtained in two equal dressings of the 

 same amount as suggested herewith. The effect of the third 

 dressing seemed to be to induce growth of top rather than 

 root. The increase in the maturity that is, the quantity of 

 early crop will be directly increased, in so far as the Nitrate 

 induces a larger crop, which is one of the first results of its 

 application. 



Very great progress has been made in the 

 Sweet Corn. growth of sweet corn for the early market, 



due both to the development of hardier varieties and to 

 greater care in the selection and use of fertilizing materials. 

 These hardy varieties of sweet corn are now frequently 

 planted as early as March as far north as New Jersey, and, 

 when planted so early, the soil supplies of Nitrogen are yet 

 unfavorable for the change of organic or other forms of 

 Nitrogen into the Nitrate form. Hence Nitrate should con- 

 stitute a large part of the nitrogenous food of the plant if 



