54 Home Vegetable Gardening 



"Bone dust" or "bone flour" is finely pulverized; it 

 will produce quick results, but does not last as long 

 as the coarser forms. 



Cotton-seed Meal is one of the best nitrogenous 

 fertilizers for garden crops. It is safer than nitrate 

 of soda in the hands of the inexperienced gardener, 

 and decays very quickly in the soil. 



Peruvian Guano, in the pure form, is now prac- 

 tically out of the market. Lower grades, less rich 

 in nitrogen especially, are to be had ; and also "forti- 

 fied" guano, in which chemicals are added to in- 

 crease the content of nitrogen. It is good for quick 

 results. 



Nitrate of Soda, when properly handled, fre- 

 quently produces wonderful results in the garden, 

 particularly upon quick-growing crops. It is the 

 richest in nitrogen of any chemical generally used, 

 and a great stimulant to plant growth. When used 

 alone it is safest to mix with an equal bulk of light 

 dirt or some other filler. If applied pure, be sure 

 to observe the following rules or you may burn 

 your plants: (i) Pulverize all lumps; (2) see that 

 none of it lodges upon the foliage; (3) never apply 

 when there is moisture upon the plants; (4) apply 

 in many small doses — say 10 to 20 pounds at a time 

 for 50 X 100 feet of garden. It should be put on 

 so sparingly as to be barely visible; but its presence 

 will soon be denoted by the moist spot, looking like 



