26 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



found that the plants growing on it are noted for their dark 

 green color and rank leaf and stem growth, and for late ma- 

 turity of fruit and seed. In the case of small grain, it may 

 result in such a weak, soft, succulent growth that the stems 

 cannot support themselves and they become "lodged," and such 

 growth may be gained without an increase in the yield of grain. 

 In the case of lawns a soft, thick sod is made; in the case of 

 spinach, cabbage and other leaf crops, vigorous, large plants 

 result; while tree and bush fruits, under such conditions, make 

 a soft, late-maturing growth that easily winter kills. 



On the contrary, when soluble potash and phosphoric acid 

 are in excess in the soil, the plants will have a tendency to pro- 

 duce a large amount of seed and fruit in proportion to straw or 

 wood and to mature early. This is a desirable condition for 

 heaviest grain and seed crops. In the case of bush and tree 

 fruits, it conduces to fruitfulness, early maturity of wood and 

 hardiness. These qualities will be most evident if the nitrogen 

 is under a normal quantity in the soil. 



It must not be understood from this that any of these ele- 

 ments are hurtful, for they a'~e absolutely necessary in proper 

 proportions to secure best results; but these effects follow when 

 they are greatly in excess. 



Except in few instances, fresh manure in the soil is not 

 beneficial, and its presence prevents close cultivation and causes 

 the land to dry out very quickly. Such manure does not afford 

 plant food for some time, since it must first be thoroughly de- 

 cayed before it is of any value to plants. Rotten manure has 

 much of its plant food in an available condition. 



Manure for Early and Late Crops. — Much more manure and 

 more thoroughly rotted manure is required for early than for 

 late crops. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that early in 

 the season fermentation goes on very slowly, and unless plant 

 food is supplied in a quickly available form it is of no immedi- 

 ate use to the plant. On account of the rapid fermentation 

 which goes on in the soil later in the season, crops that ma- 

 ture later than the middle of the summer may be able to use 

 the plant food that was locked up in fresh manure in the 

 spring. For instance, the results from fresh cow manure may 

 be almost nothing if applied in the spring to a crop of early 



