FERTILIZERS FOR VEGETABLES 



221 



of holding moisture during dry spells. The method of sup- 

 plying organic matter, whether by means of farm manure or 

 by cover-crops, must depend upon individual conditions. 



In the case of most vegetable crops, soil acidity, or de- 

 ficiency of calcium (lime) carbonate, is a condition under 

 which good crops cannot be grown. The few exceptions are 

 potatoes, sweet potatoes, watermelons and carrots. The 

 leguminous cover-crops that can be utilized on acid soils are 

 cowpeas, soy beans, hairy vetch and crimson clover. 



The only word further about soils at this time is this in re- 

 gard to the influence of the character of the soil upon crop 

 growth; light, porous, warm soils promote rapid growth and 

 early ripening, while the reverse is true of heavy soils. Light 

 soils should therefore be modified to hold moisture and heavy 

 soils to become more open. 



Fertilizer Materials. 



In conclusion, we will discuss briefly some of the more 

 common plant-food materials that are suited for use as fer- 

 tilizers in growing vegetables. The materials which at the 

 present time will be found most easily obtainable, most eco- 

 nomical and in general, best fitted for the purpose in view 

 are the following familiar ones : Nitrate of soda, sulphate of 

 ammonia, meat and bone tankage, acid phosphate, sulphate 

 of potash and muriate of potash. All of these materials 

 except tankage are readily soluble in water and are, therefore, 

 adapted for use, both in making top-dressings and in mixing 

 with the soil by the usual method of application. 



For quick growth, especially in starting crops, depend 

 largely upon the nitrate form of nitrogen. If it is desired 

 to make only one application and that at planting use, in ad- 

 dition to nitrate, sulphate of ammonia or meat tankage or 

 both, using about one-third of each, or one-fourth each of 

 nitrate and ammonia and one-half organic nitrogen. By 

 thus having the nitrogen in three different forms, nitrate, 

 ammonia and organic nitrogen, we furnish a supply, part of 

 which is quickly available, and the rest becomes available 

 gradually during the growing season of the crop. If one 

 wishes to apply only nitrate nitrogen, whether alone or in a 



