Fertilizer Problems 



105 



than to be all of one form, though the cost of the ele- 

 ment will naturally regulate this point to some extent. 

 That is, a part of the nitrogen should be nitrate or 

 ammonia, and a part organic ; a part of the phos- 

 phoric acid should be soluble (from superphosphates), 

 and a part insoluble (from ground bone, tankage or 

 natural phosphates). The soluble portions of both 

 nitrogen and phosphoric acid contribute to the im- 

 mediate needs of the plant, and the less soluble to 

 its continuous and steady growth, and to the poten- 

 tial fertility of the soil." 



For asparagus, Voorhees recommends from 1,000 

 to 1,500 pounds per acre of fertilizer prepared on the 

 above basic formula ; for peas and beans, 500 to 600 

 pounds, to be supplemented, if needed, with 20 to 30 

 pounds phosphoric acid and 60 to 75 pounds potash ; . 

 for beets and turnips, 1,000 to 1,500 pounds at time 

 of seeding, followed by 50 to 100 pounds of nitrate of 

 soda ^^once every week or ten days, for at least three 

 or four wrecks after the plants have well started.'' 

 These details will illustrate the nature of the problem. 

 The subject is taken up for the different crops in 

 Part II. 



Voorhees recommends that the market - gardener 

 "apply a reasonable excess of all the essential ferti- 

 lizer constituents to all of the crops." "Given good 

 natural conditions in respect to soil, and a favorable 

 season, the one thing that more than any other con- 

 trols the yield and quality of market -garden products 

 is plant -food of the right amount and kind." "In 

 these days, it is not only the yield of a definite area that 



