Field Truck Crops 249 



method of manuring and fertilizing. Experiments were 

 conducted by the New Jersey Station upon three farms 

 located in different parts of the state, and during four sea- 

 sons, the object of which was to test the effect on maturity 

 and yield of the early crop of the use of nitrate of soda in 

 different quantities and at different times, both with and 

 without the addition of the mineral elements, phosphoric 

 acid and potash, and to make a comparison of these with 

 barnyard manure. The results showed : 



1. That nitrate of soda was one of the best nitrogenous 

 fertilizers for this crop, and that its use in small quantities 

 (160 pounds to the acre), or in large quantities (320 pounds 

 to the acre) in two applications, increased the yield ma- 

 terially, but not at the expense of maturity, and that this 

 was equally true when used alone and when used in con- 

 nection with phosphoric acid and potash. 



2. That nitrate of soda, when used in large quantities 

 (320 pounds to the acre) in one application, in the presence 

 of a sufficient excess of phosphoric acid and potash, did 

 increase the yield, but at the expense of maturity. 



3. That when properly used, nitrate of soda was a 

 profitable fertilizer for the crop. 



It was shown, furthermore, that nitrate of soda was 

 superior to both barnyard manure and mineral fertilizers 

 alone, and on the whole, was but slightly less effective 

 than the complete fertilizers. 



Fertilizers for the early crop for different conditions of soil. 



These results have been practically confirmed both by 

 the experiments of the stations referred to, and also in 

 actual practice on soils similar in character; namely, 

 those which were well adapted for the early tomato 

 light, well-drained sandy loams (see Fig. 20, Plate X) 



