QUANTITIES OF MANURE AND FERTILIZER TO USE 33 



planted. Quick-acting fertilizers, like nitrate of soda and wood 

 ashes, are more often applied as top dressings to the growing crop. 

 They are either drilled in, or strewn on the surface of the ground 

 and cultivated in. 



In the case of crops planted in hills far apart, such as melons, 

 squashes and Lima beans, it is often the practice to apply manure 

 or fertilizer to the hills rather than broadcast, or even in addition 

 to a broadcast application (Fig. 15). This is for the purpose of 

 giving the plants a quick start; and only thoroughly rotted manure 

 or readily available fertilizer should be used. 



Fig. 16. — Making heavy application of manure for fall crop of spinach. 

 QUANTITIES OF MANURE AND FERTILIZER TO USE 



Fertilizing materials are used in much larger quantities per 

 acre in vegetable growing than in general farming. Forty tons 

 of stable manure per acre per year is a very moderate application 

 for the production of certain kinds of vegetables; and conunercial 

 fertilizers are sometimes used at the rate of 1000 to 1500 pounds 

 per acre. The quantity that will be most profitable in a given case 

 will depend upon the nature and condition of the soil and the par- 

 ticular crop in question (Fig. 16). Many vegetable crops yield a 

 3 



