Application of Fertilizer 



381 



harrowing it in. On ordinary soils, very little of it is lost 

 by leaching. Nitrates are most likely to leach. They are 

 soluble and pass down quickly. Therefore, nitrate of 

 soda and sulfate of ammonia should not be applied much 

 in advance of the planting. With annual crops, fertilizer 

 should not be applied much, if any, in advance: the fer- 

 tilizer is needed near the surface, and it should be quickly 

 available. 



There is discussion whether fertilizer should be applied 

 broadcast or in the hill, which proves that both methods 

 give good results. If one wants to enrich the land, or to 

 afford sustenance to the plant throughout its growing sea- 

 son, apply broadcast. If one wants to use fertilizer to 

 start the plant off and to maintain it until it gets a firm 

 hold on the soil, apply in the hill. A most important 

 use of commercial fertilizer in vegetable-gardening is to 

 hasten the plant in the beginning. It has been likened to 

 kindling-wood to start the blaze. 



It is not sufficient, however, that the plant be well 

 started. Continuous growth of radishes, lettuce, spinach, 

 turnips and many other crops means a tender and palat- 

 able product, with the minimum of fiber and stringiness; 

 the fertilizing should be liberal enough to maintain this 

 growth. 



.While the gardener must regulate his fertilizer prac- 

 tice by his own experiments and experience, he is not 

 wholly dependent on his'own resources. Investigation and 

 general agricultural experience indicate what probably 

 will take place in a given case. The general advice, for 

 example, is to apply a complete fertilizer — that is, one con- 

 taining nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid in about the 



