34 



nitrogen is by far the most important from the gar- 

 deners' standpoint. This element is especially valu- 

 able in stimulating a rank vegetative growth, and is, 

 therefore, especially desirable in large quantities 

 upon those crops grown primarily for their stems 

 and leaves, such as asparagus, rhubarb, lettuce, 

 spinach, cabbage, kale, etc. With those plants 

 grown for their fruits, as the tomato, cucumber, 

 squash, melon, beans and peas, excessive amounts 

 of available nitrogen, especially in their later stages 

 of growth, will stimulate excessive stem and leaf 

 growth at the expense of the fruit. 



In the very early spring comparatively little ni- 

 trate is to be found available in the soil because the 

 nitrifying bacteria do not become active until the 

 soil temperature becomes rather high. Nitrate of 

 soda is immediately soluble and immediately avail- 

 able to plant growth, therefore this element is of 

 especial value to those crops started very early 

 while the soil is yet cold. Nitrate of soda is usually 

 applied at the rate of 150 to 400 pounds per acre. 

 It is very much better, however, to apply it in small 

 quantities at intervals of from two to three weeks 

 rather than all at one time. The first application 

 of nitrate should be made after the plants have be- 

 come fairly well established in order that their roots 

 may immediately begin to take it up and use it. 

 This material should never be applied before seed- 

 ing because the greater portion of such applications 

 would be lost before the plant roots were developed 

 sufficiently to take it up. No other single treatment 

 will show more marked and more profitable results 

 than the application of nitrate of soda to most crops 

 of the types mentioned above. Indeed, so marked 

 is the difference between plants treated and un- 



