

Market Gardening with Nitrate. 



The following is the result of a practical j^^^^,^^ .^ ^^ 

 study of conditions on a large truck tarm, Unfavorable 

 near New York. In every case the opera- Qj-o^jng ggg. 

 tions of the farm were carried out on a ^^^ ^.^^^ ^^^ 

 strictly money-making basis. The soil is a p^^^^^ fQj. 

 heavy clay with a rather intractable clay pj-oducts. 

 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 22d 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 Acme harrow. Nitrate of Soda was 

 applied to the three 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 \yas 

 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 ad- 

 vantage 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 5^° 



2. 200 lbs. Nitrate 680 120 



1 . 400 lbs. 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 lbs. 200 lbs 



Gross receipts ^207.90 $161.50 • 



Fertilizer cost 8.40 4.20 



Applying fertilizer 2.00 i-oo 



Net receipts ^97-S° 161.50 $112.00 



Nitrate made gain 85.50 44-3° 



Food for 

 Plants 



61 



