290 Fertilizers 



time of seeding might result in its considerable loss, since 

 at this season rains often occur which are frequently so 

 heavy as to cause a leaching of the nitrates into the drains 

 or into the lower layers, and thus prevent the continuous 

 feeding of the plant, and a consequent delay in growth. 



An application, therefore, of from 1000 to 1500 pounds 

 of a high-grade fertilizer, one of the composition of the 

 basic fertilizer already suggested (p. 287), is frequently 

 employed at the tune of seeding, followed by a top- 

 dressing of from 50 to 100 pounds of nitrate of soda to 

 the acre once every week or ten days, for at least three or 

 four weeks after the plants have well started. It will 

 meet the requirements for added fertility. Such a prac- 

 tice, under average seasonal conditions, insures a con- 

 tinuous and rapid growth, and obviates to some extent 

 the dangers liable to follow from too much rain or from 

 drought. The frequent applications prevent losses from 

 leaching if heavy rains follow, and, except in case of exces- 

 sive and prolonged drought, the nitrate remains in solu- 

 tion, and is ready to be immediately absorbed by the 

 plant. The advantage of earliness which is gained by the 

 use of apparently excessive amounts of nitrogen is two- 

 fold : a higher price is received for the product, and the 

 cost of labor required for each unit of income is less. 

 Quite as large yields may be obtained by smaller dressings, 

 but the net income is reduced as the time necessary for 

 the growth of a marketable beet or turnip is increased. 

 See also Chapter XIV, in reference to this subject. 



Carrots. 



The food requirements of carrots are very great, a 

 yield of 15 tons an acre will remove 48 pounds of nitrogen, 

 27 of phosphoric acid and 153 of potash. For high-grade 



