VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



23 



meriting stable manure. Ground bone is said to be a lasting 

 fertilizer because its effect can be seen for several years. If 

 bones are burned the nitrogen is wasted. If fresh bones are 

 mixed with unleached wood ashes they will be made soft so they 

 can be easily broken up. It is generally applied in much the 

 same way and for the same purposes as tankage. 



Nitrate of Soda, called also Chili saltpeter, is imported 

 from Chili. It looks like common salt and contains about 16 

 per cent of nitrogen that is perfectly soluble and in form most 

 available for the plant. On this account only very small quan- 

 tities should be applied at one time, because if not taken up 

 by the plant it may be washed deep into the soil out of reach 

 of the roots. It is especially desirable for early leaf crops such 

 as early spinach, cabbage and lettuce, and to apply when a crop 

 comes to a standstill. It acts with wonderful quickness — almost 

 like magic. It may be applied several times to the growing 

 crop at intervals of two weeks, using from 75 to 100 pounds per 

 acre at each application. It may be sown near the hills if ap- 

 plied to cabbage, but for spinach or similar crops it should be 



Figure 2. — Spinach plants grown on land rich in rotten stable manure. The 

 larg-er plant received in addition to the stable manure nitrate of soda at the 

 rate of one hundred and fifty pounds per acre. 



