FERTILIZERS AND FERTILIZING II 



" In gardening, the object is, as a rule, not only 

 to obtain a large crop, but to have it ready as early 

 as possible. Hence, as a rule, soil supplies of plant 

 food are disregarded and formulas are made up and 

 used, containing large proportions of all of the con- 

 stituents and in immediately available forms, be- 

 cause the purpose is not only to feed the plant, but 

 to see to it that such an abundance of available food 

 is present that under even slightly adverse condi- 

 tions the plants may not suffer. That is, being in a 

 soluble form, if dry weather comes, so long as there 

 is any moisture in the soil, these soluble forms will 

 be capable of feeding the plant. 



" A good basic formula for such garden crops as 

 asparagus, cucumbers, early tomatoes, onions, 

 cabbage, cauliflower, celery, eggplants, melons, 

 peppers, squashes, etc., may consist of: 



Nitrate of soda ioo lbs. 



Sulphate of ammonia... ioolbs. 



Dried blood 150 lbs. 



Ground bone 100 lbs. 



Acid phosphate 450 lbs. 



Muriate of potash 150 lbs. 



"A mixture of these materials of standard quality 

 would show an average composition of 5.5 per cent 

 nitrogen, 6 per cent ' available ' phosphoric acid, 

 7.5 per cent total phosphoric acid, and 7.5 per cent 

 potash. 



TOP DRESSINGS 



" In many cases it might be necessary during the 

 growing season, particularly in the case of such 

 crops as early beets, early cabbage, melons, and 

 celery, to make additional dressings of nitrate of 



