74 ASPARAGUS 



ment. The following formula, given by Prof. P. H. 

 Rolfs, makes a good asparagus fertilizer : 



Nitrogen 4 per cent. 



Potash 5 



Available phosphoric acid ... 7 " 



One thousand five hundred pounds of the above 

 formula should be applied per acre. When possible 

 apply twenty to forty tons of vegetable material, such 

 as partially rotted rakings of barnyard manure. 

 Where such vegetable matter is procurable, the quan- 

 tity of nitrogen may be decreased proportionatel3^ If 

 manure is obtainable, allowance should be made for 

 the fertilizing elements contained therein. 



An excellent formula for one ton of asparagus fer- 

 tilizer, given by Prof. W. F. Massey, consists of : 



200 lbs. nitrate of soda 



700 " cottonseed-meal 



800 " acid phosphate (13 per cent.) 



300 " muriate of potash 



This will yield 4.9 per cent, ammonia, 6.1 percent, 

 available phosphoric acid, 8.4 per cent, potash. 



The effedts of the application of a scientifically 

 balanced fertilizer ration upon asparagus is clearly 

 illustrated in Fig. 21, which presents a photographic 

 reprodudlion of an experimental plat of the North 

 Carolina State Horticultural Society at Southern 

 Pines, N. C, fertilized with 



250 lbs. nitrate of soda 

 400 " acid phosphate 

 160 " muriate of potash 



per acre, while Fig. 22 shows a plat of equal size 

 which remained unfertilized. 



