VEGETABLE GARDENING 35 
Rotted manure is also sometimes used for top dressing 
purposes for the growing crops. Lime should, be used 
every few years, as the large amount of decaying or- 
ganic matter in vegetable lands is constantly causing 
the formation of acids in the soil. Crop refuse, unless 
infected with some serious disease or insect, should 
always be turned under in preference to removing or 
burning it. The garden is a good place upon which to 
burn all trash that accumulates about the yard or farm. 
The ashes add both potassium and lime. Any organic 
matter that will rot easily and quickly should be plowed 
under; leaves, branches, etc., should be burned and 
the ashes scattered. If manure is scarce, one can grow 
cowpeas, soybeans, or rye to help keep up the supply 
of organic matter. 
Commercial fertilizers can often be used effectively 
in the garden: For nitrogen, sodium nitrate is usually 
the best form. It should be applied as a top dressing 
to the growing plants, using 80 to 100 pounds per acre, 
applied at intervals of from ten days to two weeks, 
The nitrate should be scattered about the plants, care 
being taken that none gets on the leaves. It should be 
cultivated into the soil, and it may also be spread broad- 
cast before or during a rain. The number of applica- 
tions will depend upon the length of the growing sea- 
son of the crop treated. In case of crops which bear 
fruit it is not well to continue the applications of 
sodium nitrate too long, as it may stimulate vine 
growth at the expense of fruit production. Dried 
blood also may be used as a source of nitrogen. Nitro- 
gen in dried blood is not so subject to loss by drainage 
waters as that in sodium nitrate. When this is em- 
ployed, it may be applied in relatively large amounts 
at the beginning of the season, as no injurious results 
