May: Third Week 



FERTILIZING, WEEDING AND THINNING IN THE 

 VEGETABLE GARDEN; POINTS ON PICKING 



The importance of side-dressing and top-dressing growing 

 crops in order to get big yields is not generally appreciated 

 by the home gardener. Fortunately he needs no additional 

 equipment for this work except an old pail and the knowl- 

 edge of what to use and how to use it. 



Nitrogen is more likely to be deficient than any other 

 plant food, particularly during the earlier stages of growth, 

 while the stalks and leaves are being formed. The cheapest 

 and most efficient form in which nitrogen can be supplied is 

 by the use of nitrate of soda. This material looks and acts 

 Hke coarse salt, but contains from fifteen to sixteen per 

 cent of available nitrogen. The result of an apphcation of 

 this material under favorable circumstances is often dis- 

 tinctly perceptible in twenty-four hours. It should be 

 apphed only in very small doses, otherwise the plants will 

 not be able to make use of it fast enough to prevent waste. 



For most garden crops two to four applications at inter- 

 vals of two weeks to a month, according to the condition of 

 the crop and the length of time normally required for it to 

 mature, should be made. For fruit crops, such as tomatoes, 

 beans and vines, the last apphcation should be made at the 

 time the plants are coming into full bloom — otherwise an 

 overgrowth of leaves and vine may be induced at the ex- 

 pense of the fruit. A leaf crop, such as lettuce, cabbage or 

 spinach, is in Uttle danger of getting too much. Enough 

 nitrogen should be supphed to the root crops, such as 

 onions, carrots and parsnips, so that growth is never 

 checked. More nitrogen should be supphed during a dry 

 season or in a garden where manure has not been used. 



130 



