Market-Garden Crops 297 



to apply nitrogen, particularly if they are raised upon 

 land which has not been previously planted with these 

 crops, and thus may not possess the specific nitrogen- 

 gathering bacteria: because it is imperative that the 

 plants should not only have an abundance of all of the 

 food constituents, but that their food should be such as 

 to cause as long a cropping period as possible, and nitro- 

 gen will contribute to this end. Hence, in the fertiliza- 

 tion of these crops, while the minerals are the primary 

 constituents needed, nitrogen should also be applied, and 

 it should preferably be in the organic forms, which en- 

 courage a longer period of growth, rather than in the 

 single, active-form nitrate, more generally recommended 

 for the quick-growing market-garden crops, because its 

 complete solubility and immediate availability encourage 

 a rapid growth and short period of development. The 

 basic fertilizer recommended, if applied at the rate of 500 

 to 600 pounds to the acre, will usually furnish sufficient 

 nitrogen, and may, if necessary, be supplemented by the 

 application of amounts of superphosphate and potash 

 salts which will add from 20 to 30 pounds of phosphoric 

 acid, and 60 to 75 of potash. 



SOLANACEOUS CROPS 



Eggplant. 



The eggplant belongs to the same botanical family as 

 the potato, and while specifically benefited by the fertiliz- 

 ers recommended for that crop, is improved by the 

 further addition of nitrogen, which stimulates an early 

 leaf growth. Good organic forms are quite as useful as 

 the nitrates or ammonia, unless the latter are used fre- 

 quently as top-dressings. (See page 239.) 



