12 MAKING HORTICULTURE PAY 



soda, preferably in fractional applications of, say, 

 ioo pounds each. That is, the early beets, after 

 transplanting and being properly set, should receive 

 a top dressing of ioo pounds of nitrate of soda 

 every ten days until 300 pounds has been applied, 

 in addition to 800 to 1,000 pounds an acre of this 

 formula. The object of this being not only to give 

 the plant what it needs at the time it needs it, but 

 to guarantee the fullest use of this substance, which 

 is so soluble that, if applied early in the season, a 

 large proportion may be lost by washing out of the 

 soil. 



"The same is true of celery, which is not only 

 greatly improved in quality when conditions are 

 made favorable for rapid and continuous growth, 

 but is also largely increased in yield. As high as 

 400 pounds of nitrate of soda, applied as above 

 stated, in addition to the application of the basic 

 formula, has proved most profitable. 



" The application of these concentrated fertiliz- 

 ers, more especially the dressing made after the 

 plants are growing, should be carefully made, so as 

 not to injure the young and tender vegetation. The 

 fertilizer should not be scattered broadcast over 

 the plants when the foliage is wet, but rather ap- 

 plied along or between the rows, and the land 

 immediately cultivated. 



" A good plan to follow is to apply the general 

 fertilizer broadcast as soon as the land is plowed, 

 and then worked in during the subsequent cultiva- 

 tion. A part of the special or basic formula may 

 then be applied in the row, and preferably lightly 

 covered with soil before setting the plants or seed- 

 ing, and the fractional applications of nitrate, 

 ammonia, or acid phosphate applied as before out- 

 lined. For most garden crops there is little danger 



