Fertilizers 59 



most difficult one in the whole business of gardening, 

 and the degree of your success in growing vegetables 

 will be measured pretty much by the extent to which 

 you master it. You cannot do it at one reading. 

 Re-read this chapter, and when you understand the 

 several subjects mentioned, in the brief way which 

 limited space made necessary, pursue them farther 

 in one of the several comprehensive books on the 

 subject. It will well repay all the time you spend 

 upon it. Because, from necessity, there has been so 

 much of theory mixed up with the practical in this 

 chapter, I shall very briefly recapitulate the direc- 

 tions for just what to do, in order that the subject 

 of manuring may be left upon the same practical 

 basis governing the rest of the book. 



To make your garden rich enough to grow big 

 crops, buy the most thoroughly worked over and 

 decomposed manure you can find. If it is from 

 grain-fed animals, and if pigs have run on it, it will 

 be better yet. If possible, buy enough to put on at 

 the rate of about twenty cords to the acre; if not, 

 supplement the manure, which should be plowed un- 

 der, with 500 to 1500 pounds of high-grade mixed 

 fertilizer (analyzing nitrogen four per cent., phos- 

 phoric acid eight per cent., potash ten per cent.) — 

 the quantity in proportion to the amount of manure 

 used, and spread on broadcast after plowing and 

 thoroughly harrowed in. In addition to this general 



