Market Gardening with Nitrate. 



The following is the result of a practi- 



Results in an ca j stuc j v Q f con ditions on a large truck 

 Unfavorable farm> near New Yor k. In every case the 



operations of the farm were carried out on 

 son with Low a strictly business basis The soil is a 



heavy clay with a rather intractable clay 

 oaucts. subsoil, decidedly not a soil naturally suited 



to growing garden crops. The weather was unfavorable, 

 including the most severe drought in thirty years; from 

 March 2 id to July 8th practically no rain fell. Owing to 

 the unfavorable season, the grade of garden products was 

 low, causing a low ruling in prices. Details by crops follow : 



Asparagus. 



The bed was twenty years old, and had been neglected. 

 As soon as workable, it was disc-harrowed, and later smooth- 

 harrowed with an ,A cme harrow. Nitrate of Soda was ap- 

 plied to the best test plots April loth, 200 pounds per acre, 

 sown directly over the rows and well worked into the soil. 

 A second application of 100 pounds per acre was made to 

 plot i April 24th; and, on the 29th, a third application of 

 equal amount. 



The experiment comprised three plots, two fertilized 

 with Nitrate of Soda, and one without Nitrate, plot 3. Plots 

 i and 2, treated with the Nitrate, produced marketable stalks 

 ten days in advance of plot 3, a very material advantage in 

 obtaining the high prices of an early market. The results 

 were as follows, in bunches per acre : 



Plot and Fertilizer Bunches per acre. Gain. 



3. No Nitrate 560 



2. 200 Ibs. Nitrate 680 120 



i. 400 Ibs. Nitrate 840 280 



The financial results are as follows, prices being those 

 actually obtained in the New York markets: 



Plot i. Plot 2. Plot 3. 



Fertilizer, Nitrate 400 Ibs. 200 Ibs. 



Gross receipts $207.90 $161.50 



Fertilizer cost 840 4.20 



Applying fertilizer 2.00 i.oo 



Net receipts 197-50 161.50 $i 12.00 



Nitrate made gain 85.50 44.30 



