16 MARKET GARDENING 



applications of lime, the physical and chemical condition 

 of the soil are improved, causing plant food to be liberated 

 and to become available. Lime, bj^ neutralizing the soil 

 acidity, renders the land imfavorable for the development 

 of the dub foot of cabbage and other crops belonging to the 

 same family. ]\Iost garden crops do best in a soil slightly 

 alkaline and applications of lime bring about this condition. 

 The best results are obtained when the lime is applied in 

 the spring. 



21. Methods of Application. Fertilizers and lime may 

 be sown biroadcast over the land or applied with a fertilizer 

 drill. The drill is far preferable to hand sowing, both for 

 uniformity of application and for convenience. Lime should 

 never be applied with manure, because it liberates the 

 ammonia which will then be lost. The manure should be 

 ploughed under and the ground then harrowed, after which 

 apply the fertilizer or lime, just previous to the time of 

 planting, and harrow it in. 



22. Green Manures. Green manures and stable man- 

 ures are the best sources of humus. While the growing of 

 crops for green manuring, or for cover crops is not generally 

 practiced by the market gardeners, humus must often be 

 obtained by ploughing under green crops. 



Cover crops, and crops grown for green numures, are 

 divided into two classes, legmninous and non-leguminous. 

 Crimson clover, red clover, cow peas, and vetch are examples 

 of leguminous crops. Rye is a commonly grown non- 

 leguminous crop. 



23. The Legumes. The legumes have the ability to 

 take nitrogen from the air and to store it up in nodules which 

 grow on their roots. When a leguminous crop is ploughed 

 under, not only is humus added to the soil, but some fertilizer 

 in the form of nitrogen is also added. 



