Market-Garden Crops 293 



at the rate of 1000 pounds to the acre, and well worked 

 into the soil previous to planting, would furnish these 

 amounts, and this application, together with a top- 

 dressing of from 75 to 100 pounds to the acre of nitrate 

 of soda, or 60 to 75 pounds of sulfate of ammonia, two or 

 three times at intervals of about three weeks, the first 

 after the crops have well started, would provide not only 

 an abundance of food of the right sort, but the nitrogen 

 when needed, without danger of loss. 



If the soil has been well dressed with a general fertilizer, 

 as above described, the scallions should receive a dress- 

 ing of nitrate just as soon as growth begins in the spring, 

 as rapid and early growth at this season will, other con- 

 ditions being equal, depend upon the supply of available 

 nitrogen, and nitrogen in available forms is not usually 

 present in the soil in sufficient quantities so early in the 

 season. 



COLE CEOPS 



Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage (see Fig. 28, Plate 

 XIV), collard, cauliflower and kale are all large-leaved 

 plants and voracious feeders, and are specifically benefited 

 by large applications of nitrogen and of phosphoric acid. 

 Heavy applications of the basic fertilizer, which is excel- 

 lent, should be supplemented upon good soils with addi- 

 tions of nitrogen and phosphoric acid, and upon light 

 soils, potash may also be added. Notwithstanding the 

 fact that these crops are particularly benefited by nitro- 

 gen, the character of the edible portion or head of the 

 different plants is very largely influenced by the nature 

 of the growth. Too rapid an early growth, due to an 

 excess of nitrogen, frequently results in an abnormal 

 development of leaf, which is not accompanied by a 



