VEGETABLE GROWING. 



WHAT IS FERTILIZING? 



Three of the essential plant elements are oftener 

 wanting than any other ; these are potash, nitrogen, 

 and phosphoric acid. 



The> play such an important part in the plant 

 economy, and are present in such varying quantities, 

 and so often one or more of them is present in deficient 

 quantities, that we look upon them as the essential 

 elements, though they are not more necessary to the 

 plant's welfare than some other elements. A defi- 

 ciency of any one will cause the plants to look sickly, 

 and make them a fit subject for insect and fungoid at- 

 tacks, to which they readily succumb. If a field has 

 been producing good crops for a number of years and 

 then gradually fails, it is a pretty fair indication that 

 some form of food for that crop is becoming exhausted, 

 and we must either stop growing that crop on that soil 

 or in some way supply the wanting plant foods. This 

 is accomplished by using either home-made or com- 

 mercial fertilizers. 



