4510 Tur VEGETABLE |NpUsTRY 1x New York STATE 
ent fields on the same farm need different fertilizers. The first 
essential is to have a good sod as a foundation; then vary the 
analysis according to how the land has been treated previous to 
the sod condition, and, if a fertilizer is deemed necessary, let the 
percentage of phosphoric acid predominate. Still, many advocate 
high-grade goods and use them, such as 4-8-10 and 4-10-4.  The- 
oretically, this formula should give results; practically, the ex- 
pected results do not always materialize. 
I recall two fields of white marrow beans growing on opposite 
sides of a highway this past season. They were both given about 
the same start as to soil and preparation. On one field a 10-8 
fertilizer was used and on the other barnyard manure was spread 
during the fall and winter and no fertilizer used. The first field 
ripened early and yielded about ten bushels to the acre. The 
second field was about a week later in ripening and yielded 
twenty-three bushels to the acre. This field was planted the 
twelfth of June. 
I have talked with a great many bean growers and have asked 
them this question: “When you left strips across your fields 
where the fertilizer was not used, did you notice any difference 
in appearance or yield between these rows and those where you 
used the fertilizer” The answer has invariably been, ** No, but 
I have seen the crop injured in dry seasons by fertilizers.” Then 
I ask: “ Have you been using it in this way on wheat?” The 
answer is, ‘‘Oh, ves, and could see good results even on the grass 
that follows the wheat.” This confirms my own experience, and 
right there is the place to use the fertilizer; we always get re- 
sults from its use. But for beans, the place to use it is on the 
sod previously, not directly on the bean crop. Let the nitrogen 
or ammonia get toned down by the grass crop. Then the three 
ingredients of a complete fertilizer will be present — nitrogen, 
phosphoric acid and potash. Enough of the latter will be ren- 
dered available for the requirements of the growing crop. 
If a fertilizer is used let it be drilled over the whole surface of 
the field previous to planting the crop. It is the general experi- 
ence with us, in this section of the bean belt, that land that has 
always been wet and unproductive will, after drainage, produce 
heavy yields of beans. Usually a crop of corn is raised the first 
year on such lands, for this has always been the great pioneer crop. 
It seems to whip the soil into its normal condition. I have one 
