346 Fertilizers 



up, another third immediately after or before the first 

 cultivation, and the remainder immediately after or before 

 the second cultivation. The application of the fertilizers 

 in these forms and at the times indicated insures the rapid 

 and early growth and development of the plant; and by 

 reason of the solubility of the nitrates and ammonia salts, 

 a late feeding of the plant with nitrogen is obviated. 



On light or medium soils, the amount of plant-food 

 should be increased by at least one-third, though frac- 

 tional applications should be made as previously recom- 

 mended. On soils rich in vegetable matter, a part of the 

 nitrogen may be omitted, though the phosphoric acid 

 should not be reduced. 



The influence of previous deep cultivation of soil. 



Another point to observe in the growing of beets for 

 sugar and it also has an immediate bearing upon 

 fertilization is the character of the previous cultiva- 

 tion. If the soils have not been deeply and well culti- 

 vated, so large a dressing as is here recommended would 

 be likely to be deleterious, as with a shallow and poorly 

 prepared soil plants would have less opportunity to pene- 

 trate deeply, and thus too great a growth above the sur- 

 face of the ground would be encouraged, with a consequent 

 lowering of sugar content as well as yield. 



The best practice in this country will have to be devel- 

 oped by the experience of our own growers, although in 

 the absence of such experience the recommendations 

 here made may be relied upon. In many sections in 

 which soils and climate are well adapted for the sugar- 

 beet, the needs as yet are quite as much for improved 

 methods of cultivation as for added fertility. They have 

 not been exhausted of their essential fertility. 



