Market-Garden Crops 303 



setting the crowns, or even in greater amounts from year 

 to year, preferably early in the spring, in order that the 

 plant may have the whole season for the appropriation of 

 the food. 



The specific fertilizer, in addition, should contain im- 

 mediately available forms of food, and should be applied 

 preferably immediately after or during the latter period 

 of the cutting, in order to feed at once, and thus stimulate 

 and strengthen the plant in its condition of lowered vitality, 

 due to the continuous and large removal of the shoots. 

 This application should also be liberal, since, as already 

 indicated, limitations at this time may result in a greatly 

 decreased yield and a poorer quality of product the next 

 year, and hence a reduction in profit. The best growers 

 . apply, in addition to the fertilizer recommended, and after 

 cutting, not less than 250 pounds of nitrate of soda, 300 

 of superphosphate, and muriate of potash, or kainit, 

 equivalent to 100 pounds of actual potash. 



These recommendations as to the amounts of fertilizers 

 may seem rather large to those who have been accustomed 

 to light applications, but they are the minimum rather 

 than the maximum amounts, as many growers have learned 

 that the extra amounts applied are preferable to the 

 smaller amounts, contributing not only to the length of 

 life of the plant, but also to the total yield and size of the 

 shoots, as well as to their edible quality, which is measured 

 by their succulence and flavor. 



These suggestions as to fertilizers are for conditions 

 where large amounts of organic or natural manures are 

 not readily obtainable. When these are used, they may 

 serve instead of the basic fertilizer, but cannot well sub- 

 stitute the special applications of artificial fertilizers made 

 after cutting is finished. 



