222 GARDEN PROFITS 



ally, preferably with liquid manure, though water 

 will do. 



CONCENTRATED PLANT-FOODS FOR SMALL 

 GARDENS 



The three main elements of plant food are ni- 

 trogen, phosphorus and potash. All of these can 

 be supplied as commercial fertilizers, in rapidly 

 available forms. 



Since they require so little time for preparation, 

 they should be applied only to crops that are grow- 

 ing, or, at all events, not previous to the sowing of 

 the seed. I remember an exasperating waste of 

 some hundred pounds of good fertilizer, which was 

 put on the garden before it was plowed, the stable 

 manure being saved till later by the "gardener"!! 



You can apply commercial fertilizer either by 

 drilling it along the rows, or by dissolving the ma- 

 terials in water and watering the ground close 

 about the plants; the latter method is particularly 

 suited to the use of nitrogenous fertilizers. 



HOW MUCH TO USE 



In the garden you can use commercial fertilizers 

 at the rate of 500 to icoo pounds per acre, with 

 the best results, depending on the special needs 

 of the crops as listed above. Of course, there is 

 no need of stopping at 1000 pounds. Many potato 

 growers apply a ton to the acre, and don't regret it. 



However, planning applications by the acre 

 doesn't help you to fertilize 100 square feet of cabbage 



