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PAGE.
MATER GILCEION 6 4.5.<\5 00 occiels sneer ielgiele's ais. = wialeleVersve, Gainatersheecr ara 7
Explanation of the Full Tables.... aieiwieeferelsrarsrs serate aun okaterete 20
) 1 ssletininicte Sa Wee cic eee sek ata sais ain eae 26
PENCIL CL Pyaa giartyecesa a 'aielarchereieye tye arelsiery Tpteramne Aa nya Sialaeiras melas 27
PME Sra vata oi sre's teyas viavclatinal latsicieiamefels Se Vas nie aetaoree cused a 27
PPEOLNOICC eye. ele stakes ue foie er aiciat sictetavey y+ Stteneerais,aitie tiektieiele ae oa) weyaens 28
PREM Saicicreteys asset sieta/ats yisratecciata' ove ohelers oc sccin/ole) abe rev anrot okt cerca 29
EG UANTEAG ctnte APSEP TA (iS cyalerc nis) Sielefevnsia el Mersiere hie! rele ieeie Aielein Seictelely 30
Peseta AVERT Fleer aysios icyaicvo- oir cletetelsionyl tops aie! aeimleie scalnielavesere nite e Sisters 30
Pee els ASTON Olle ash. Viet ele acieetstera nla, saree wicieecerey cohern ‘ 32
PRAMS Geil ter aia le ac < sisy nic. ofa eioieleje + o1sihacneisis.s\s @ ole.) nents aie eget 32
Beans—Snap...... Serres oe) eck hee Mier ea are tei chs ccints Sey 33
Re EGET 5 5 co 2). 6.5 ooo w dcip alain) sain .c sista eiarste.) si = isa ve Slamiateats 34
Beets—Sugar .... ...... arate cisehaususiaia hem wieorstorareloe alc aaaty a teers 34
Pte IMIRS an CGAMUTIIN ec) ciave leis “elsisisrfvisve © «ise:cjntm slmistajalatare che ors or shel oieietctole 35
Meee TeV eght cine Pe siatctstescifaay dro is oid eh sib late 0 Sys ac) stelvia oceiatcrevave, ch onautarenens 36
RIMMING <et'e ss 2p eisiers «pelos elciein'e afaratntars ejeieie ave elsupeciet tievor.cakcr swore ecm Co
INC At koe hd bs pike erg phenacetin Se ua ewe Sst AS ae 37
Cane—Sugar....... aie mes ee a Sete te apie eis ates ere ae eee 39
MBO Srapaiaictayercisicisiese aiebs win ens ion cievate By ONCE aE aceon tes tee ets 39
CESSEK 7Biges os" eee CORR erRE BO nRar mre ceRe santa tere Or Oc tcc 40
Ea einihate. Sih os cons os SAA oe losis erage etal eters bse oees she e eee 42
DEED Ye choc dice fos BOE ea Ono ON ORO a Rasen OT AHS GhaGe oe 42
CURT OIAY 6 Atal IRS in RRR Me sere lo ie ae ORR PRIA MOREE S 2 43
Bet AISIES og ice ends ese eee senna es A SCRA aren Ast 43
ROlignres tee (OTANI SOT iaay oc vcle/iait neice co: taleierats 6s \a)e sm nclevatee ve eieisisieyeis eens 44
Clover—Japan .......0.205 see ceewseeeeee oes ws ayeicro tsa ree 47
Clover—kRed..... BAER Saas EMMA AAS ORE IC ae hen Tavis cris osc 45
se RIRT EG... is eaiuly |) slale'w nw ey, es veins Wiehe | Miele 'sceteieatatulatee teem 46
Cocoanut Palm Ride cron etmcinon sete aioe 48
RIE METI ec csc cv aiwals er siesta Wen lelna else awh cin kn melee 48
Oo LSS 1 SA ES aE SAE Rs AS - 50
Besa MMe Sey tt oc versace ale} acide eerateio ner (ous Oe dos Sonia tare eee 50
Cranberries. SOOO CUD OGCUDE, BIMCOME SAO Good oa cooRRR ssc 52
Geeaenbers' and Melons...:..-...:..4.ccesdees, » | eeaken ane 53
RPAIIMaT MENUS Bee hata st asec Ls = dione! acta ele ute ok: ccieticle storers os Beata ile
EPICA Aes etre tteisi style ale, eure euige'sis ahs stay Scher cub eyetatersare seis Badooe ie
eRieiance Preheat, a... cote saysreovcienm cit omietties tele ever eerie 56
CMe s Tattoo Tale. at SLs aa 'as'eleta Sho agen sles otetetanearararaa cre 56
Flax AON reat cee ARR Apelor eidinceittee Sectae sale, ceciak Sitter 57
Etat g sr PPR Ear AERTS Se niatct wee Re ssisaseee eae
RE NE Be Uo oe, 6 sis vis octane ewe, atcciee ee ae manors 58

PAGE,
icrasswvands—Permanents uc. morse ee sees se cece dae ae Bate:
GrassHOorswVZawilS) <.s' crews ee oe on aes ord erate ela ee 62
LAST EOT CARO WSS... tice, veces « «cond tee cece oe 63
PGCTED (sore cppieeninie bp mle Saino’. We aie nheje ty ee eke sates oe 66
Is lGoensasdo ve ceaoeoser siasiers olstele se ttaleitastedcrsirs ts aici he 2 tirana 66
Horse Radish..... State Gein los aa aero MEM eae ESET aah io = ec ee 67
WETS Pe a.2e torrets Bloisiasdisscinmictns steyeescbioteleelolete cris a Se. ts eee 68
IBCECUCE iii ccuicte th cce eee PUR ee Be one once ice Ee 68
1 Bib Ke[cigial Sa eS een a ey ge een oes CAS oA RAG ieee eee stain atelete ajo
PD TING oso ote ea ais a Pert e p ale ving Cetera ants AU Rees EN tice yee ae 69
Mama ed NWael i. aii iio sie oe eae Sh waren vices eet head sith eee ee i:
IMGT GE Airtcte lei eerecins. cateleico de sete Agee eee eee Hake it eee 71
Mintss: 5. ale Nie e eis aise eesicas Rial Seteisia eras, Wee pede wee one etn eee 72
Mista di stoke ee mein. rasa eak scm te Palen enayavaatora a tae aise eee 72
INDTSePy Vocoule. 6 oo oa8 eat So ee acre oo See r09
CRIES eo hs tafe crctatercleroievele Seem a terorstoies Sire TRIM een aie cater ee 73
UIE cutee hee tie ae ees Baer Sor Rea RO SAS Berets
Onions..... nn Laie attlelote rare Melee cs Sanne ore rae Unni nee ee ae 76
Gringe and Aienion 2... ss4ce secs. sooner eee BeAr 7
PAT STASIS Bec sivceo celal eGo eee ee clini ee toe ene ee 79
PEACH and “Almond. Mes. on. eae Soke ee bts ao
Peantiin cer eobee woe emacs cess br lek oidvele ee oie), Poe Rane
PEARS Ate wcriseue peers ee wert 51573; ba eleuetsls eetee eae fete esate eed Sater “eee
PeasS—Cow Beas 2s nest evtiscs se ode mink sable Eee Sicciene pe
Peas Greens oo2. css bio, ook! isso ke sd A ee 84.
PIAGAI PLS Lice ant} Seau.cdena Pe dee dscls Son Meubee en. ee 85

INS Fe. es 2 S Sra tohi, Wakao le: SSIS aio. ue rclote toe cieSer Lethal h Cacis, eons encanta 87
Peratves Irish 5. Fo. wos tect cee ns lace seb us eee eee eee 87
PRPALGES SWORE: ba c's nn fics ban ote eden aOR OR REE Spode son 4: cole)
PRGA ING, ere oe faeces Seat nea ee Cea EE eee Aigo
BARE = Chis ee te Ge eas eee ate eae meee a'c ie tkn ciee see ete gt
Radishes ....... aie aha raleleie.n.a dionae ielitetcvarscei er tien eters nee terete ete ee 92
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Rane! ).t ik gainia & Sepebe chethale’s spouercrsteis ie tase erie olete eet ee ms 93
eS Der tees f.2: Few. nue aca oe ie fone eta, tee ae 94
RUDE ED ote sect cwsk aver tais Mar haa oo ea pitng Stereuiie WS ele WSIS Meroe tee ea 95
BTS hy te ae a Ee re Ce Cone ite Seren Gan Anan . 96
USI We bc | aad pee BEANE UL ele AUR ARR alee Se 97
5 SIE SA i arbre fs fouahor barbs, bdo lanntoreg alge hola elas cis ae eee «sim
OPT ans ce ols Se clonin cane een Sia io Sis mise shoe 08
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DPMNACH . Lda awed dec terbowetn tele boen a ea eo oo
So Sh ain, eR ENE RE MMMM RRC yy yo2
Squashes and Pumpkins...... oiled cs 2. baile ce een sea yo2
SLEW DIT Va vex .ceoee one cisions aioe oye 20 keen aie) nei teh ce 103
MUMNOWET.o cos cues ces Sr MEG SOO RSENS EE Se a sa. I05
TPODACED, Ws bro au: Gahan bnete tes shee aa aa eae ae SE OR anh kU
POMALOGS 3 256 oo. wee bice shox ot oot bt Core Ae ee 107
Trees and’Shtubs in Nursery... /csccse. ss tease ene = evel cialeinaeete®

STATIS Wncsac tee ata Sessler ate Si ORE Be cle eigineleesiclelcie tele eae ee I1z
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Wheat alajews’ "(sik 2 Bits dic co aie esotae etre ete onic eee oe Pie
Distances Recommended for Planting.......... ce. eeeeeees II5
Number of Plants per acre at various distances..... ..... 116
Approximate Average Analysis of the Fresh Orange...... 117
Extracts about Potash Fertilization .. ....... ..--. Appendix

fllustrations Showing Results of Experiments. . End of Book.

INTRODUCTION. ;

Scientific Facts Concerning Rational Manuring.

All plants in order to grow to best ad-
vantage require light, heat, air, water, cul-
tivation and a fertile sozl.

By a fertile soil is meant a soil capable of
producing rich and abundant crops. Two
factors are requisite to a fertile soil: first, a
physical condition adapted to the crop to be
grown, and second, a sufficiency of the plant
food called for by such crop.

But fertilizer alone will not insure a good
crop. The fertilizer that feeds the plant
also feeds the weed. <A more perfect culti-
vation will therefore be necessary. An
abundance of plant food, a careful cultiva-
tion and a favorable season must all unite
to produce a rich harvest.

It should be the object of the farmer to
select the soil best adapted to the crop to be

8 INTRODUCTION.

grown, and then to furnish the crop with an
abundance of its favorite and essential food.
The truly economical farmer will feed with
a generous hand the growing plant.

Every crop removes from the soil a portion
of the plant food contained therein. Con-
tinuous cropping will in time exhaust the
richest soil, unless the farmer restores the
nutritive elements that have been removed.

Science and practical farming have dem-
onstrated that generous living is as neces-
sary to the plant as to the animal. Poor
pasturage will produce a worthless stock.
Worn out and exhausted soil will produce a
spindling and scanty crop.

Agricultural chemistry has demonstrated
that plant life calls imperatively for three
prime forms of plant food. ‘These three are
phosphoric acid, potash and nitrogen,

The annual products of the farm (grain,
grass, roots, milk, etc.) remove from the
soil large quantities of nitrogen, potash and
phosphoric acid. A portion of these food

INTRODUCTION. 9

elements is returned to the soil in the form
of stable manure, but the remainder have
been lost, and the productive capacity of the
farm can only be maintained by the use of
commercial fertilizers.

To illustrate this fact, let us suppose a
farm, on which, during three years, crops of
wheat, potatoes and corn have been raised,
and where 26,700 pounds, or about 13%
tons, of stable manure has been applied
per acre. An examination of the compo-
sition of the crops removed and of the
manure applied will show the following
decrease in fertility at the end of the period:

Phos.
Crops. Potash. Acid. Nitrogen.
lbs. lbs, lbs.
Wheat, 30 bu. (1802 lbs. grain
2671 lbs. straw) 30 22 44
Potatoes, 300 bu., 16,800 lbs.. 97 26 des
Sore) tons, 24,0001bs: |.) . 76 36 98
Total plant food removed . 206 84 199
Total plant food supplied by
13% tons stable manure, . 168 69 134
Total Joss of plant food. . 38 15 65

The tops or vines of field potatoes are so
seldom removed from the field, that they
are here considered as having been returned
to the soil.

IO INTRODUCTION.

The actual condition of the soil would
have been improved, had clover been intro-
duced into this rotation and turned
under as green manure, but this prac-
tice is scarcely commendable in a rota-
tion of less than five years, and even then, it
must be remembered that clover enriches
the soil only in nitrogenous matter. The
potash and phosphoric acid of the soil must
inevitably be exhausted, unless the loss in
these elements is made good from outside
sources.

From the fact that on most farms the sup-
ply of stable manure is insufficient, it be-
comes necessary to increase the supply of
plant food by buying ‘‘commercial fer-
filters. *"

Phosphoric acid can best be supplied by
‘dissolved phosphates,” ¢. ¢., dissolved phos-
phate rock, dissolved bone and dissolved
bone black. In these prepared fertilizers
the phosphoric acid is present in a soluble or
available condition, and is readily assimilated
by the plant, while in raw or unprepared
phosphates, ¢. g., ground phosphate rock,
floats, ground bone, etc., the phosphoric acid

INTRODUCTION. Ir

is present in an insoluble or unavailable con-
dition, and is therefore of little value as plant
food. Phosphoric acid, from whatever source,
when once available, is of equal value. No
distinction as to value should be made with
reference to the derivation of phosphoric
acid. Phosphoric acid, in dissolved rock, is
equal in value to phosphoric acid in dissolved
bone or dissolved bone black.

The greatest potash supply of the world is
found at Stassfurt, Germany, where soluble
potash salts are mined in large quantities.
Muriate of potash is the cheapest form of
potash. This is usually the best source of
potash, except in special cases, where chlo-
rine may injure the quality of the crop, such
as tobacco and oranges. Forsuch crops sz/-
phate of potash or sulphate of potash magne-
sta should be used. Kaznzt is another form
of potash salt, containing chlorine, and is
specially valuable upon sandy soils, Kainit
is valued not only for its fertilizing prop-
erties, but for its power of destroying
insect life and curing plant disease. Itisa
most valuable fertilizer when applied to the
cotton crop on the sandy soils of the South
Atlantic coast.

12 INTRODUCTION.

Wood ashes is also a valuable source of pot-
ash. The amount of potash in wood ashes,
however, is small and variable. Wood ashes,
if produced upon the farm, should always be
used, but they should never be bought out-
side, as the price of the potash contained in
them is, as a rule, far too high to justify
their purchase.

One fact has been clearly demonstrated
by scientific research in plant life: ‘‘Soda
cannot take the place of potash as a form
of plant food.” Plants cannot grow
without potash, but are indifferent to
the presence of soda. They can prosper
when soda is entirely absent, but no amount
of soda will produce growth when potash is
wanting.

The most important materials supplying
nitrogen which are largely used in the com-
position of commercial, fertilizers are the
following: WVztrate of soda and sulphate of
ammonia,in which the nitrogen is in a soluble
or available form. Nitrate of soda is particu-
larly adapted for top dressing during the
growing season, and is the quickest acting
nitrogenous fertilizer. Dried blood, tankage,

INTRODUCTION, 13

concentrated tankage, azotine, fish scrap,
castor pomace and cotton seed meal repre-
sent a form of nitrogenous fertilizer where
the nitrogen is more slowly available. These
substances must therefore be applied early
to produce the best effects.

Leguminous crops, such as peas, beans,
aifalfa, vetches,. clover; etc., gather’ their
nitrogen from the air. An application of
nitrogenous fertilizers to such crops is un-
necessary. Only potash and phosphoric
acid need be supplied.

We should take advantage of this property
of leguminous crops, and obtain from them
a portion (and sometimes even all) of the
nitrogen required by othercrops. If plowed
under, the legumes will not only furnish
nitrogen to the soil, but also humus, which
improves its physical condition. This methcd
is called ‘‘green manuring.”’

The heavier the growth of the clover or
pea crop, the larger will be the amount of
valuable nitrogen which it will gather. A
rank growth can be obtained on the poorest

14 INTRODUCTION,

soils, by the liberal use of phosphoric acid
and potash.

On sandy land and in a hot climate it is
not advisable to plow under a heavy growth
of these plants while in a green condition,
If the soil is very deficient in vegetable
matter, the crop should be allowed to die
upon the land and then be plowed under in
cool weather. If it is necessary, however,
to plow under a green crop, a good dressing
of lime, not less than 30 bushels per acre,
should be applied to prevent injurious
souring of the land.

When the soil is fairly well supplied with
vegetable matter, it is not economical to
plow under the entire growth of a crop of
peas or clover, since the feeding value of
such crop is greater than its value as a
fertilizer.

Barnyard or stable manure is regarded
by many farmers as a ‘‘complete fertilizer.”
This is correct only so far as it contains all
three of the fertilizer ingredients, but these
ingredients do not exist therein in the pro-
portions required by most crops. Stable

INTRODUCTION. 15

manure contains proportionately too much
nitrogen and not enough phosphoric acid
and potash to be considered a ‘‘complete
fertilizer.”

By a proper rotation of crops and by
‘(green manuring,’ stable manure can, in
fact, be dispensed with, and in some cases
such a course is even preferable. The old
saying that stable manure is indispensable to
successful farming, is not now regarded as
an axiom.

A manure containing an excess of nitro-
gen will unduly increase the growth of leaf
and straw at the expense of fruit or grain.
To avoid such result, stable manure should
always be supplemented with artificial fer-
tilizers containing phosphoric acid and potash.

Stable manure, when allowed to decom-
pose by exposure to the air, loses a portion
of its nitrogen in the form of volatile ammo-
nia. This loss can be prevented by scatter-_
ing. kainzt over the surface of the manure
heap as it accumulates.

The amount of kainit which should be
added to fresh stable manure to prevent loss

16 INTRODUCTION.

of ammonia through heating, is one pound
per day for each cow or horse, or for eight
head of sheep. The kainit will save more
than its cost in the value of the nitrogen
which it retains, and will possess its original
value as a potash food.

Swampy and peaty soils, which consist
largely of humus, and which, as a rule, are
rich in nitrogen, derive only slight benefit
from stable manure. Such soils need lime,
potash, and often phosphoric acid. The ap-
plication of these forms of fertilizer is fol-
lowed by largely increased crops.

Lime improves the physical condition of
such soils, and by hastening the decomposi-
tion of such organic matter present, increases
the available supply of plant food. Lime
finds also a most valuable office in the
‘‘sweetening ”’ of sour soils and in changing
heavy soils to a light and porous texture.
It is of little value on soils deficient in humus
or vegetable mould. Jarl, chalk, qutck-
lime and ground oyster shells are available
sources of lime. Lime and magnesia may
be classed among the secondary forms of
plant food.

INTRODUCTION, 17

Stable manure should be applied in the
autumn. When spread in the autumn upon
a sod intended for corn the following spring,
and allowed to lie upon the surface, the re-
sults will be better than when spread in the
spring, or when spread and plowed under
in the autumn,

Potash salts should be applied in the fall
and winter. Potash will not leach through
the soil, If application at such time is not
practicable, it should be made a short time
prior to sowing or planting. Anearly appli-
cation of muriate of potash and kainit will
be advantageous, for the following reason:
The potash itself will be fixed by the’ soil,
and the chlorine present, which is injurious
to a few crops, such as tobacco, will be
washed away.

Phosphoric acid should be applied in the
fall, especially in its less soluble forms, such
as ground bone, etc. ‘The soluble forms of
phosphoric acid, such as dissolved rock, dis
solved bone black, etc., may be applied in
the spring. While phosphoric acid will not
leach through heavy soils, it may leach
through very sandy soils. An application

18 INTRODUCTION.

in the spring to such soils is therefore
preferable.

Phosphoric acid and potash will prove of
slight value when applied as ‘‘ top dressing”
during the growing season. When so ap-
plied these fertilizers will stay on the sur-
face and out of reach of the roots of the
plants.

Phosphoric acid and potash are ‘‘fixed”’
or retained by the soil. They are not
volatile, nor do they leach through the soil.
It is quite different with nitrogen, When
organic matter, exposed to the air, decom-
poses, a portion of the nitrogen present vola-
tilizes and is lost into the atmosphere. The
remainder, unless absorbed by vegetation,
is finally washed away. Nitrogen in the
form of nitrates readily leaches through the
soil. Nitrate of soda, therefore, may well
be applied as a top dressing during the grow-
zng season. Fertilizers containing fish scrap,
tankage, dried blood, etc., should be applied
in the fall. They are then decomposed and
the nitrogen present converted into soluble
forms for the following season.

INTRODUCTION, 19

The ‘‘commercial fertilizers’’ now in the
market are the most desirable supplements
and substitutes for stable manure that can
be obtained by the farmer. In complete
fertilizers the nitrogen, phosphoric acid and
potash are skillfully compounded in various
proportions. They are in a finely ground
and thoroughly commingled condition, can be
applied by drilling. and can be easily mixed
with the soil. ‘Their value is accurately de-
termined by the various agricultural stations,
and the interests of the farmercarefully pro-
tected.

ea

EXPLANATION TO THE FOLLOWING PAGES.

The kind and amount of fertilizer needed
by a certain crop upon a certain soil, or that.
can be applied with profit, can best be deter-
mined by ‘‘experiment,’’ and depends not
only upon the amount of plant food which
the soil already contains, but also upon the
physical condition of the soil, and the nature
of the previous crop.

Wecan therefore offer only ‘‘suggestions”
on this point, since it is the worst sort of
quackery to prescribe ‘‘doses”’ for soils. It
is hoped that these suggestions may be of
value in a general way. These tables are
not to be regarded as infallible rules, but as
suggestions, founded on a knowledge of the
needs of particular plants.

The amuunts of the fertilizers recom-
mended for the various crops are meant to
be average quantities upon an average soil,
and the amount should be varied according
to the requirements of the soil and in accord-
ance with the prevailing conditions of each
farm.

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26 ALFALFA,

ALFALFA.
(LUCERNE CHILI CLOVER.)

Sozl.—Alfalfa shows its best development
only on a soil having a mellow subsoil, so
that the long tap root can strike down. The
soil should contain an ample supply of lime.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—Lucerne should
be sown after the soil has been devoted
for a year or two to clean cultivated crops
requiring the destruction of weeds, for, in its
early growth, it is quite feeble and easily
choked by weeds. It can be sown with
winter grown crops, but is best sown alone.
Like other legumes, it does not need nitro-
genous manures, but should be well supplied
with phosphoric acid and potash. Dressings
of fertilizer should be repeated annually in
the autumn or winter.

Use per acre 450 pounds of .a fertilizer
containing :

Available phosphoric acid, 9 per cent.

Potash, 14 ee

General Notes and Suggestions.—Alfalta
can never take the place of red clover on the
farms of the Eastern States, but has proved
of the greatest value in the arid region of
the West and Southwest. It is a perennial
plant which lasts many years, when once

ALMOND AND APPLES. ey

established and well supplied with phos-
phoric acid and potash. Alfalfa can be cut
for hay several times during the summer,
but it is not suited for pasturing since it
bloats cattle badly.

ALMOND.
(SEE PEACH.)

APPLES.

Soil,—The apple thrives best in a north-
ern latitude, or sometimes in mountainous
locations, and prefers a strong, clay loam,
rich in humus, but well drained and free
from stagnant water.

Fertilizer.—The ashes of fruit trees show
large quantities of lime and potash, indicat-
ing that these elements are much needed.
It is not advisable to apply a large percent-
age of nitrogen, as a rank and unfruitful
growth is thus produced. For an apple or-
chard a good annual top dressing, per acre,
is 500 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent.

Potash, 11 vl
Use nitrogenous fertilizers only, in case the
growth of the wood is insufficient. An ap-
plication of 200 pounds of nitrate of soda in
such case will be appropriate.

28 ARTICHOKE.

General Notes and Suggestions.—The trees
should be set out 35 to 40 feet apart each
way. While the trees are small, crops of
vegetables may be grown among them, and
the orchard should be well cultivated. When
the trees have grown to a fair size, the land
should be seeded to grass, which should be
mown several times during the season, and
allowed to decay upon the ground. Do not
try to grow hay and fruit in the same field,
but keep the land exclusively for fruit. Old
orchards fail mainly because the soil is ex-
hausted. Like annual crops, trees require
the application of fertilizers.

ARTICHOKE.

Sow.—A warm soil, moderately rich in
humus.

Fertilizer.—Use per acre 600 lbs. of a
fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, 8 a

Nitrogen, 3 os

General Notes and Suggestions.—This is a
vegetable worthy of more attention than it
generally receives. If it is well cared for it
will produce a remarkable yield of tubers,
and furnish a valuable food for farm animals
and also for the table.

ASPARAGUS. 29

ASPARAGUS.

Sozl.—Asparagus needs a light loam ora
sandy soil; heavy soils will produce a poor
quality and quantity of crop.

Fertilizer. As this crop monopolizes the
land for many years, the soil should be well
prepared, and its fertility maintained by an-
nual dressings. Large amounts of kainit
are essential for this crop. Some growers
have obtained best results by the annual use
of one ton of kainit per acre. ‘The fertilizer
used should be applied during the winter.
As a fertilizer, use per acre 500 pounds of a
fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, 5

Nitrogen, A Wega
and apply in addition 700 pounds kainit and
200 pounds nitrate of soda. It will pay to
fertilize asparagus liberally, as this will pro-
mote quick growth and produce large stalks,
commanding a higher price in the market.

66

General Notes and Suggestions. —It is
worthy of note that many growers use com-
mon salt successfully upon asparagus. The
chief virtue of salt seems to be its property
of keeping down weeds for a while. All the.
benefit of salt can be obtained by the use of

30° BANANAS AND BARLEY.

kainit, which contains not only 30 to 35 per
cent. of salt, but 12 to 14 per cent. of pot-
ash.

BANANAS.

Soil.—A level, moist, sandy soil, rich in
humus, is best suited for the banana. A
location near the sea is most favorable.

Fertilizer.—Under the above conditions,
nitrogen is not needed. If the old stems are
cut down and allowed to decay upon the soil,
a banana plantation will wonderfully increase
the fertility of the land. Lime and potash
must be liberally supplied. Use per acre
800 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 11 per cent.
Potash, 6. Sica

General Notes and Suggestions.—Several
species of ‘‘musa” are grown under the
names of ‘‘banana” and ‘‘plantain”’ in the
Tropics, and to some extent in the southern
coast States.

BARLEY.

Sow,—A strong clay loam, thoroughly
drained, is the most suitable soil for barley.
The soil must be one in which pliant food is
properly proportioned, as an excess of nitro-
gen causes the straw to become heavy and

BARLEY. 31

fall or lodge. Low, sandy soils will not pro-
duce barley of good quality. Heavy, wet,
clayey soils are likewise unsuitable for this
crop.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—The proper place
for the barley in the farm rotation is after
a well manured crop of potatoes or Indian
corn. The manure that has been used for
these will be well decomposed and mingled
with the soil. Such crops will usually leave
sufficient nitrogen in the soil for the barley.
If, however, the soil should need a fertzlzzer,
use per acre 500 lbs. of a fertilizer contain-
ing:

Available phosphoric acid, 9 per cent.

Potash, 12 ye

Nitrogen, I si
Use this fertilizer by broadcasting in the
early spring. Prof. Wagner’s experiments
have shown that barley is very responsive to
potash fertilizers, and a larger amount than
that given above may be advantageous.

“General Notes and Suggestions.—There are
three species of barley grown: the two
rowed (Hordeum distichum), the six rowed
(Hordeum vulgare) and the beardless Hor-
deum trifurcatum,) In raising barley for
brewing purposes, especial attention should

32 BEANS—CASTOR OIL AND HORSE,

be paid to proper manuring. An excess of
nitrogen will injure the quality of the grain,
but a large amount of potash and a proper
proportion of phosphoric acid should always
be provided.

BEANS—CASTOR OIL.

Soil.,—A light sand or sandy loam soil is
the most suitable for this crop.

Fertilizer.—Too much nitrogen in the soil
induces an enormous growth of the plant
without a corresponding yield of seed. If
the soil is poor, use, per acre, 400 lbs. ofa
fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent.

Potash, 9 a

General Notes and Suggestions.—The plant
forms a tree in India, but in colder climates
it is an annual. It can be grown as far
north as Southern Illinois. It yields the oil
commercially known as castor oil.

BEANS—HORSE.

Sowl.—Heavy clay or loam is best suited
for the horse bean; it also succeeds very well
on reclaimed swamp land or on dried up
pond bottoms, and upon moist, sandy soil,
rich in humus.

BEANS—SNAP., 33

Rotation and Fertilizers Recommended.—
This crop does not require a highly cultivated
' soil, and can follow directly after heavy
feeding grains. Use per acre 4oo lbs. of a
fertilizer containing :

Available phosphoric acid, 1o per cent.

Potash, ite ah

General Notes and Suggestions.—Horse
beans are not raised to a great extent in the
United States, but are grown largely in
Europe. ‘This crop, like other leguminous
crops, improves the soil by enriching it in
nitrogen and humus.

BEANS—SNAP.

Sozl.—Light, sandy loam.

Rotation and Fertilizer Recommended,—It
is generally sown as a crop succeeding early
cabbages. Use per acre 700 lbs. of a fer-
tilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, 12 $s

. Nitrogen, 2 Fe

General Notes and Suggestions.—This crop
is largely grown in the South. If the beans
are to be picked while green, a richer manur-
ing will be advisable; again, although the
bean is a ‘‘nitrogen gatherer,’’ an applica-

34 BEETS—GARDEN AND SUGAR.

tion of nitrogen will cause the pod to grow
more rapidly and prove profitable. If grown
for seed, nitrogen should be omitted and
only potash and phosphoric acid applied.

BEETS—GARDEN.

Soil,—Sandy loam or light clay.

Fertilizer.—Use per acre 400 lbs. of a fer-
tilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, He EP a

Nitrogen, ASE SAREE

General Notes and Suggestions.—Careful
cultivation is essential.

BEETS—SUGAR.

Sot/.—Beets for sugar should be grown on
deep, mellow clay loam, but good crops can
also be grown on fertile sandy soils, rich in
humus,

Rotation and Fertilizer.—Beets can follow
almost any crop, but preferably grain crops.
They will do well on land on which corn was
raised the previous year. The land should
be manured and plowed in the autumn
after the corn is harvested. ‘They should
not, however, be grown too often in succes-
sion on the same soil, In the absence

BENNE (SESAMUM). 35

of stable manure, a complete fertilizer
should be used, and even in case stable
manure has been applied, it should be sup-
plemented by a liberal application of potash.
The following application will be ample per
acre for beets, 1,000 lbs. of a fertilizer con-

taining:
Available phosphoric acid, 6 per cent.
Potash, ace a,
Nitrogen, Oe ts ® ee

It is best to use sulphate of potash for
sugar beets, but if the beets are not intended
for the production of sugar, muriate of
potash can be used in the place of the
sulphate. |

General Notes and Suggestions.—Beets are
largely grown in Europe for sugar making,
and also for cattle feeding. For the latter
purpose, the variety called ‘‘mangels” is
used. In this country, ensilage, made from
green corn, has largely taken the place of
beets for stock food.

BENNE (SESAMUM).
Soi.—A rich loam abounding in vegetable
matter suits this plant.
Fertilizer.—Heavy manuring with stable
manure is desirable, or, in place of it, green

36 BLACKBERRY AND BUCKWHEAT.

manuring. Use per acre 550 lbs. of a fer-
tilizer containing:
Available phosphoric acid, 4 per cent.
Potash, 4 re
Nitrogen, As
General Notes and Suggestions.—Lime the
land once in five years, and plow under crops
of cow peas.

BLACKBERRY.

Sow.—Sandy or gravelly loam, well
drained, but with sufficient humus to retain
water in time of drought.

Fertilizer.—Use per acre BiOSe Ibs. of a fer-
tilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, 9 es

Nitrogen, 3 ef

General Notes and Suggestions.—Like all
berries, they should be fertilized with coarse
horse manure or with litter. Suckers and
weeds should be kept under control.

BUCKWHEAT.

Sow.—This plant does well on poorer
soils, both light and heavy. It grows upon
sandy as well as upon peaty soil. Whena
farmer has low, undrained places which can-

CABBAGE. 29

not be plowed in the spring, he may plant
them to advantage with buckwheat.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—Buckwheat can
follow grain or hoed crops. If sown
upon dry and poor upland soil, it will
pay to use some fertilizers upon it; but
on low, black lands, which suit it best, these
are not needed. On poor lands 300 lbs. of
a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, 8 “

Nitrogen, 8 ai
will give good results,

General Notes and Suggestions.—Buck-
wheat is sometimes sown in July as a shade
crop to protect crimson clover, and if used
for this purpose, it will pay to apply
phosphate and potash in double quantities,
The Japanese variety has been found much
superior to the old sort.

CABBAGE.

(KALE, CAULIFLOWER AND OTHER VARIETIES OF
BRASSICA OLERACEA. )
Sowl,—Cabbages grow well on mellow,

fertile soil. They are, however, particularly
well adapted to reclaimed meadows and

38 CABBAGE,

turned-under sodlands. Under all circum-
stances the crop requires an abundance of
moisture, though decidedly wet soils must
be avoided.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—Any crop that
leaves the soil in a good condition can pre-
cede cabbage. Cabbage should not follow
itself for any length of time, as it is liable to
take and transmit plant disease, and to be
attacked by insects. Use per acre 1,500 lbs.
of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid,.7 per cent.

Potash, gen se

Nitrogen, yeh ANNE

General Notes and Suggestions.—Early
cabbages are an important product in the
Southern States; they are set out in Novem-
ber. ‘The early cabbage crop, being grown
at the season when the nitrification is not
active, must be specially supplied with an
abundance of the most stimulating fertiliz-
ers. The late crop of cabbages planted in
July or August do not need such heavy
manuring. Late cabbages should be planted
on heavier soil than the earlier cabbages.
The late crops should always, if possible, be
planted on the inverted sod, probably clover
stubble after the hay has been cut.

CANE—SUGAR AND CARROTS, 39

CANE—SUGAR.

Sovl.—Deep, sandy loam, bottom lands,
alluvial, ‘‘ canebrake.”’

Rotation and Fertilizer.—This plant can
follow cotton or indigo, also rice and grain
erops.” Use per: acre 750 Ibs. of a fertilizer
containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, IO os

Nitrogen, 3 -

Use bagasse ashes from cane mills. Avoid
fertilizers containing chlorine, also avoid
fresh stable manures. On very heavy soils
an occasional application of lime is bene-
ficial,

General Notes and Suggestions.—If re-
claimed, salt or brackish marsh land is to be
planted to cane, crops with heavy foliage
should be grown on the land for several
previous seasons.

CARROTS.

Sozl.—Sandy loam is recommended for
carrots, as they stand dry weather well and
require a warm soil. Carrots are injured by
too much moisture.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—Carrots should
follow some crop that has been heavily

40 CARROTS AND CASSAVA,

manured with stable manure the previous
year, and then they need only to be well
supplied with phosphoric acid and potash.
Direct application of stable manure is not
advisable, as it is apt to render the roots
forked and unsightly. When the land has
not been heavily manured the previous year,
use per acre 500 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:
Available BEOSPHOME acid, 8 percent:
Potash, ie) ri
Nitrogen, 2 es

General Notes and Suggestions.—Carrots
form a valuable addition to the food of horses
and cows in winter. The yellow variety in-
tended for the table should be planted ina
rich loam.

CASSAVA.

Soil.—Cassava thrives best on sandy soil
full of humus.

Fertilizer.—it should have a full supply of
potash, like all plants which store large
quantities of starch. Use per acre 300 lbs,
of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, EOjaisn nee

Nitrogen, 2s coe eieae

General Notes and Suggestions.—Cassava
is a tuberous rooted plant belonging to the

CASSAVA AND CELERY. 4I

Euphorbiacee, or Spurge family. The plant
has a general resemblance to the castor oil
plant, to which itis related. This species is
attaining considerable importance in the
South as a source of starch. The large,
fleshy roots give a large quantity of starch,
which is sold under the name tapioca. The
plant thrives well in all the Southern States
at far north as North Carolina, but is most
at home in the Florida peninsula. It is
grown from cuttings of the stem, which are
kept buried in winter. From its enormous
yield this plant ought to constitute the chief
source of the manufacture of glucose.

CELERY:

Soil,—Celery is grown best upon moist,
low lands. <A black, peaty soil will give fine
looking celery. The best quality can only
be grown upon a moist, clay loam. Land in-
tended for celery should be so situated, that
it can be readily irrigated, for no plant suf-
fers so severely from drought.

Rotation and Ferttlizer.—Stable manure
applied directly to the crop is apt to make
rusty celery. It is better to plant celery
after a crop of early cabbage that has been
heavily manured. In this case only a light

42 CELERY AND CHERRY.

application of fertilizer will be needed.
The crop may follow acrop of early grass,
since, for winter use, celery need not be set
out until August or even September in the
South. Use per acre 700 lbs. of a fertilizer

containing:
Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent.
Potash, 7 rf
Nitrogen, 4

On swamp lands, increase potash one-half,
and diminish nitrogen in same proportion,

General Notes and Suggestions.—lf the
crop is grown on muck or swamp land, it
should be so thoroughly drained that per-
manent water never rises within three feet
of the surface. As such soils are rich in
nitrogen and proportionately poor in potash,
they should be well supplied with the latter,

CHERRY.

Soil.—Cherries thrive on any dry and
fertile upland soil.

Fertiliser.—The treatment recommended
for the peach willin a general way be suit-
able for the cherry, except that it is better
to put the orchard:in grass, as in the case of
apples and pears.

General Notes and Suggestions.—In the

CHICORY AND CLOVER—ALSIKE. 43

Northern States, cherries should be budded
on mazard stocks; in the South, always on
mahaleb stocks. The sour cherries, dukes
and morellos, do well on the southern coasts;
but it is a useless attempt to raise sweet
cherries in the South, except in the Pied-
mont and mountain sections.

CHICORY.

General Notes and Suggestions.—Chicory,
so far as we are aware, is not cultivated in
the United States. It has been introduced
and is now a troublesome weed in many
sections. While to some extent the sale of
the roots might be a source of profit, the
plant so easily becomes a very troublesome
weed that we would not encourage its culture
when general cropping is pursued. It suc-
ceeds best upon a fertile limestone clay loam;
and like all tuberous rooted plants needs
liberal supplies of potash.

CLOVER—ALSIKE.

General Notes and Suggestions.—This is a
perennial clover that grows best on wet soils
where other clovers do not thrive. It isa
good plant to mix with redtop, fowl meadow
grass and other grasses that like moist land.
Fertilize the same as other clovers.

44 CLOVER—CRIMSON.

CLOVER—CRIMSON.

Sowl.—A light, sandy loam is recom-
mended. It thrives even on lighter soil than
is adapted to red clover. It requires little
humus and comparatively little moisture.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—The clover may
be sown after grains and root crops. Use
per acre 600 lbs, of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent.

Potash, 1 Mea as

General Notes and Suggestions.—This is
an annual clover of recent introduction in
American agriculture, but it seems to be of
much value particularly in the sandy lands
of the Southern States, where the perennial
red clover burns outin summer. It is also
of great value to supplement the red clover
at the North, and asa quickly grown foliage
crop. It withstands the cold of winter
better than the red clover, and its feeding
value as hay is much higher. It is a good
plan to sow it with buckwheat in midsum-
mer, or itcan be sown in the North in corn
late in the season. In the South it should
be sown in August or September, and it is
better to sow oats sparingly with it to
prevent the young plants from being withered
by the sun. This clover should be cut for

CLOVER—RED. 45

hay as soon as fairly in bloom, as it soon
becomes woody when the blooms elongate.

CLOVER—RED.

Sozl.—Deep clay loam is the soil for red
clover, but if a supply of mineral food is
present it will thrive on other soils, Lime-
stone clays are especially favorable to this
clover, but it will grow even on peaty soil. It
will not thrive on newly broken prairie soils.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—Clover should be
grown in rotation alternately with grain,
cotton or tobacco. An addition of lime, if
in the form of carbonate or sulphate (plaster),
is beneficial to its growth. On soils which
are deficient in lime, a top dressing of one
ton per acre of fresh water-slaked lime has
a wonderful effect. It is usually a waste of
money to apply nitrogenous fertilizers to red
clover, since it is one of the class of plants
(legumes) which capture and fix in the soil
the atmospheric nitrogen. For this reason,
clover is a so-called ‘‘soil improver,”’ and it
can be raised continuously in rotation on the
same land, provided the necessary supply of
phosphoric acid and potash is given. Use
per acre 500 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 9 per cent.

Potash, 10 et aaa

46 CLOVER—WHITE.

General Notes and Suggestions.—This
clover is an almost invariable crop in the
different systems of rotation now practiced.
It is not only one of the best fodder crops,
but also one of the best for green manuring.
Clover can be sown, and usually is sown,
with small grain, and it can also be sown
alone with great success. It can be profit-
ably sown in growing corn at the last work-
ing, and in this way we can gain a season in
the crop, and use it as a preparatory crop
for wheat the following year, with acertainty
of getting a better crop of wheat than if the
wheat immediately followed the corn. In
the Northern States clover usually lasts only
two years. On clay soils in the South it will
last longer. On sandy soils in the South it
rarely succeeds, and its place can be taken
by cow peas in summer and crimson clover
in winter. :

CLOVER—WHITE.

Soil.—The soil recommended is the same
as for red clover, except that a soil with
more humus is preferable. White clover
thrives on prairie soils, where red clover
cannot be grown.

Rotation and Fertiizer.—The same as for
red clover.

CLOVER—JAPAN., 47

General Notes and Suggestions.—White
clover is inferior to red, where the latter
can be grown, for all purposes except pas-
turage and bee feeding. It is useful to mix
with grasses for permanent fiasture. It is
not commonly sown, however, in this
country, for it comes in naturally in all per-
manent grass lands. On lands used for
pasturing horses it is not desirable, since it
causes a salivation or slobbering in horses.”

CLOVER--JAPAN.

This plant has completely overrun the
country, from Virginia southward, since the
war. Particularly on moist clay soils it has
proved to be a valuable plant for making
good pasturage on waste lands. It is not
suitable for regular croprotation. The plant
will thrive in the densest woods, and by its
use the woodlands may be made valuable
pasture. Japan clover has almost banished
broomsedge in the mountainous districts of
North Carolina. It is an annual, and seeds
late in the fall, so that probably it will never
become naturalized much further north than
its present limits. While it will grow on the
poorest land, it is greatly benefited by pot-
ash and phosphoric acid. In the far South -

48 COCOANUT PALM, AND CORN—INDIAN.

on moist clay soils it can be grown for hay,
but elsewhere it is only useful for summer
pasture.

GOCOANUT PALM.

Sowl.—The cocoanut palm does not thrive
away from the sea coast, and needs a sandy,
moist soil, with plenty of vegetable matter.

Fertilizer.—The only fertilizing material
needed will be the seaweed, which is conve-
nient and abundant, and an occasional dress-
ing of lime and kainit.

General Notesand Suggestions—The cocoa-
nut palm can only be grown to advantage
in one locality of the United States. This
is along the seashore of the eastern side of
the Florida peninsula, south of Jupiter inlet.

“CORN-—INDIAN.

Sotl,—A mellow loam, inclining more to
sand than clay, is the most suitable soil, and
if abounding in vegetable mould, it is par-
ticularly favorable.

Rotation and Ferttlizer—A sod of clover or
meadow grass, upon which farm manure has
been used during the previous year as top
dressing, is the best possible preparation for
this crop. With such a preparation it will

CORN—INDIAN, 49

not pay to purchase nitrogen, since the
growth and culture of corn is during the hot
season, when bacterial nitrification is active
in the organic matter of the soil. A liberal
application of phosphate and potash will pay
particularly in the South, where it is the
common practice to sow field peas in the
corn in summer, or when the corn is to be
followed by wheat, oats or barley. Use per
acre 550 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:
Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.
Potash, IO A
Nitrogen, a Mallat s
When planted on land destitute of sod, no
plant grown on the farm will better repay
heavy applications of stable manure, rein-
forced by acid phosphate and potash.
General Notes and Suggestions. —Corn gives
the best yield when planted in drills 4% feet
apart, with the stalks thinned to 20 to 24
inches in the row. On light, sandy soils in
the South it is found necessary to give it
more room, but even there, on strong,
clay loam, with a buried sod, the best.crop
can be grown at the first-named distance.
In the South, crimson clover may be sown
among the corn to give a winter pasture.
The land is turned under again in spring

50 CORN—SWEET, AND COTTON.

for corn, and if a good supply of phosphate
and potash is given to the clover, the process
can be repeated for years on a clay loam
soil, without any diminution of the crop.

CORN—SWEET.

Sozl.—A sandy or gravelly loam, a lime-
stone soil, or alluvial soil is recommended.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—Sweet corn may
be planted after roots and vegetables, toma-
toes, etc. Use per acre 500 lbs. of a fertil-
izer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, 9 ts

Nitrogen, 3% =

General Notes and Suggestions.—Northern
localities are best adapted to this crop, as a
far sweeter kernel is produced than in south-
ern latitudes. |

COTTON.

Soz/.—Cotton prefers a somewhat sandy
soil of a level character and well stored with
humus.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—lf the meal and
hulls from the seed are returned to the soil,
cotton is not an exhaustive crop. The prac-
tice so long followed in the South of planting

COTTON. 51

the same land year after year with cotton
has brought ruin to the soil, not because of
the exhaustive nature of the crop, but be-
cause of the constant washing of the soil by
the heavy rains of the South and its exposure
tothe sun. With a carefully planned rota-
tion of crops, and liberal fertilization, the
cotton lands will not deteriorate. An appli-
cation of a few hundred pounds of com-
mercial fertilizer often makes all the differ-
ence between a profitable crop and a total
failure.

On some soils kainit is a complete specific
against red rust and some other troubles to
which cotton is subject. On heavy clay
soils stable manure is the best fertilizer, but
as cotton farmers seldom keep much stock,
this article is alway lacking. In some sec-
tions farmers are of the opinion that cotton
will not succeed after a crop of peas or
clover, but in such cases it is usually a lack
of potash that causes the failure. Use per
acre 500 to goo lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, 3 :

Nitrogen, 2 she
On sandy soils, deficient in potash, it will pay
to add a liberal dressing of kainit.

52 CRANBERRY.

General Notes and Suggestions.—It is a
good practice, now being adopted, to sow
among the cotton at last cultivation 15 pounds
per acre of crimson clover seed. This pre-
vents the soil from washing in winter, and
also fixes nitrogen for the succeeding crop.

CRANBERRY.

Sotl.—The cranberry is a native of moist
meadows, swamps and marshes. Its favorite
soil is peat or muck, and under cultivation
these natural requirements must be met.
The artificial meadow should be covered
with a coating of sand 3 to 6 inches deep.

Fertilizer.—Because of its habits of growth
and requirements, a fertilizer for cranberry
must be peculiar. The plant first grows
vine and afterwards fruit, the two growths
differing materially in composition and con-
sequent food requirements. For old bogs
use per acre 600 lbs. of a fertilizer con-

taining:
Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.
Potash, rey. ST cans
Nitrogen, Bat hae

For new bogs the best results are obtained
when the quantity of nitrogen in the fertili-
zer is materially increased.

CUCUMBERS AND MELONS. 3

General Notes and Suggestions.—Success-
ful artificial cranberry culture necessitates a
water supply, so situated and under control
that the entire meadow may be easily and
rapidly flowed, not only for irrigation, but as
protection against insects, disease and frost.
This object is most easily attained by dam-
ming the stream, producing the marsh at
such an elevation that the water from the
pond thus created may be conducted by gate
or sluice to the meadow.

CUCUMBERS AND MELONS.
(CANTALOUPES, WATERMELONS, )

Soz/,—Cucumbers and*melons should be
planted on a sandy loam.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—The ground ,
should be checked out and holes dug at the
intersections. Fill these holes with a com-
position of rotted leaf mold from the forest,
and on each hill scatter a handful of the
following fertilizer:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, 8 7

Nitrogen, 3 ss
or at about the rate of 1,200 lbs. per acre.

Now cover with soil, and scatter seeds on
hill, and cover. When up and well started

ae CURRANTS.

out of reach of insects, thin to two plants
to a hill, and apply a top dressing of a table-
spoonful of nitrate of soda around each hill
of plants.

General Notes and Suggestions.—Cucum-
bers and muskmelons should be planted
5x5 feet apart, and watermelons tox 10 feet.
A too heavy application of nitrogenous
manures to these crops will produce hollow
fruit and a tendency to an early decay. Cot-
ton seed meal for the first application of
nitrogenous matter is preferable to nitrate
of soda, because the former becomes more
gradually available.

CURRANTS.

Soz.—A light clay loam, free from excess
of water, also a deep, sandy loam, are rec-
ommended.

Fertilizer.—Use per acre 550 lbs. of a
fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent.

Potash, II se

Nitrogen, 3 if

General Notes and Suggestions.—Pruning
the currant is too frequently neglected. Old
wood should be carefully removed every
autumn.

EGG PLANT. 55

EGG PLANT.

Sozl.—They require a light and exceed-
ingly rich soil, and do best on land which
has for years been cultivated for garden veg-
etables, and heavily manured annually. A
thin soil, no matter how well manured, will
not probably grow a good crop of egg plant.

Fertilizer.—Use per acre 2,000 lbs. of a
fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 5 per cent.
Potash, Ro stan fe as
Nitrogen, 4 ‘“

Prepare the land well, and mark it out with
a plow the distance named under ‘‘ General
Suggestions;’’ scatter the fertilizer in the
furrows each way; then lap two furrows
over the first ones, and set the plants at the
crossings, having first flattened the ridges.
General Notes and Suggestions, —Egg
plants are a profitable crop for the market
gardener, when put on the market early and
in good condition. ‘The seed must be sown
in boxes, in a warm greenhouse, early in
March, potted off in small flower-pots, from
which they can be turned into the open
ground when it is warm, without any dis-
turbance of the roots. Set he plants three

56 ENDIVE AND FIGS.

feet apart each way, andcultivate thoroughly
and often.

ENDIVE.

Sozl.—Loam; light, clay soil.
Rotation and Fertilizer.—(See Lettuce.)

FIGS.

Soiwl.—Figs prefer a level, moist, sandy
soil, and one not too rich in nitroge-
nous matters. They reach their best per-
fection near the ocean or salt water estu-
aries.

Fertilizer.—Figs need but little fertilizing.
A good dressing will be, per acre, 400
lbs. of a fertilizer containirg:

Available phosphoric acid, 1o per cent.

Potash, 12 ‘es

General Notes and Suggestions.—Figs can
be grown to great perfection in all of our
Southern States. Figs need little pruning,
except to keep them clean of the mass of
suckers that are apt to grow from the crown
of the roots. ‘They are easily grown from
ripe wood cuttings set in the ground in fall,
and covered with forest leaves for protection
in winter.

FLAX. 57

FLAX.

Soil,—Flax needs a moist soil and an
abundant rain fall, but dislikes a hot climate.
It needs a fairly good soil. A good loam
or a newly broken up sandy loam is pre-
ferred. Upon very heavy clay or on very
light, dry, sandy soils the flax yields poorly,
and the fibre is of a poor quality.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—F lax may follow
any well manured crop except beets or
turnips. It requires the finest preparation
of the soil, and a soil free from weeds.

Farm yard manures should not be used
directly on the crop. Use per acre 4oo Ibs.
of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.
Potash, go. SFr, 8
Nitrogen, a alto a

General Notes and Suggestions.—Flax is
grown either for the seed or for the fibre of
its elongated bast cells. It is an annual
plant, two feet high, with blue flowers. If
sown for seed alone, 34 bushel of seed per
acre is enough; if for seed and fibre, one
bushel; andif for fibre only, 1% to 2 bushels.
The time for sowing is early spring.

58 GINGER AND GOOSEBERRY.

GINGER.

Sowl,—Ginger should have a deep, sandy,
peaty soil, one which never suffers from
drought, and yet is free from standing water.

Ferttlizer.—lf planted in proper soil, only
phosphoric acid and potash will be re-
quired. Use per acre 500 lbs. of a fertilizer
containing:

Available phosphoric acid, ro per cent.

Potash, ars, “Fhe,

General Notes and Suggestions.—Ginger of
commerce is the creeping rhizome or root-
stock of the plant. It is largely grown in the
West Indies, and can be grown in a number
of the Southern States. Ginger is grown by
cutting the rhizomes into short pieces, each
with an eye or bud.

GOOSEBERRY.

Sozl.—The soil and fertilizer for the goose-
berry should be the same as for currants.

General Notes and Suggestions.—This fruit
is too frequently neglected or unknown. It
is really a delicious berry, more easily grown
than the currant, and by many considered
superior.

GRAPES. : 59

GRAPES.

Sotl.—Grapes need a well drained soil, and
prefer a sandy, gravelly or rocky soil, and
thrive on hillsides where few other plants
will. Badly drained soil is not suited for the
grape. »®

Rotation and Fertilizer.—In planting a
vineyard upon new land it is best to precede
with a crop of cow peas or of clover. In
Europe, stable manure is largely used for
grapes. In this country it is said that stable
manure induces a rapid and poorly ripened
wood, and a growth more ready to succumb
to attacks of fungous diseases. We therefore
prefer to grow leguminous crops between
the grape rows (cow peas and crimson clover),
and depend upon the clover for all nitrogen,
but large applications of potash and phos-
phoric acid are indispensable. Use per acre
700 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 9 per cent.
Potash, Bg Snag, fs

and apply inthe early spring. If no legumes
are raised, use 200 lbs. of nitrate of soda in
addition. Apply also once in five years 30
bushels of fresh water slaked lime per
acre,

60 GRASS LANDS—PERMANENT.

General Notes and Suggestions——The
grapes of the United States belong to many
species. Most of those grown in the Eastern
and Middle States belong to Vitis Labrusca,
the fewer number to Vitis #stivalis and
Vitis Riparia. In the South, Scoppernong
and other varieties of V. Rotundifolia are
largely grown. Vitis Vinifera, the grape of
Europe, Asia and Africa, is grown only under
glass in the East, but is the principal grape
of the Pacific Coast, New Mexico and Ari-
zona. ‘The best grape regions of the North
are on the lake shores of Western New
York and Lake Erie. The best section for
grapes in the South is the long leaf pine sec-
tion of North Carolina,

GRASS LANDS.
(PERMANENT.)

Fertilizer.—To keep a permanent pasture
in good order, and to increase its capacity for
supporting stock, the soil should be fed. As
a top dressing, use per acre 700 lbs. of a
fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent.

Potash, 12 ye

Apply this every second year, and it will
constantly improve the pasturage.

GRASS LANDS—PERMANENT. 61

At frequent intervals during the summer
a smoothing harrow should be run over the
pasture to scatter the droppings of the ani-
mals, and thus prevent the growth of bunches
or tussocks of grass which cattle will not eat.

General Notes and Suggestions.—The
sweetest of pasture grasses are grown
upon uplands, and the keeping of hill lands
permanently in grass isan important matter,
not only for the stock, but for the benefit to
the land in preventing washing. But the
pasturing of stock, particularly of growing
animals, and of cows whose milk is sold, ex-
hausts the phosphate and potash of the soil
very rapidly, and it is important that these
be restored if the sod is to be kept inthe
best condition.

The kinds of grasses best adapted to this
purpose will depend upon the character of
the soil and the climate. In limestone dis-
tricts, the main pasture should, in the Middle
States, be the ‘‘ Kentucky blue grass” ( Poa
pratensis), with orchard grass in beginning.
On clay uplands of the granitic formations
or on the red sandstone formations in the
Middle States use Virginia blue grass (Poa
coutpressa) and Rhode Island bent grass,
with orchard grass to start the sod and pro-

62 GRASS FOR LAWNS.

tect the slower grasses. The same rule will
apply to the mountain regions of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
For the southern coast plain there is no
grass which can equal the Bermuda grass
(Cynodon dactylon). This, mixed with Texas
blue grass (Poa arachnifera), will make
a perfect summer and winter pasture from
North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico. '

GRASS FOR LAWNS.

It is just as easy to have a good lawn in
any part of the United States as anywhere
else, if the preparation is right and the
grasses used are suited to the soil and the
climate. From Virginia northward there is
no better grass needed than the Kentucky
blue grass (/oa pratensis), but in the South,
and on a sandy soil anywhere, this grass does
not do so well. On the sandy soils of the
South, success can only be attained by giving
the lawn a good coat of clay, for the grass
will surely burn out without it. Many peo-
ple fail to get.a good, permanent lawn in
the South because they endeavor to enrich
the sandy soil by spreading black soil from
the woods or swamp on the land. This dries
to a powder in hot weather and destroys the

GRASS FOR MEADOWS. 63

grass. The better plan is to make a com-
pact bed of clay, and then enrich it by top
dressings. For this purpose nothing is bet-
ter than raw bone meal. Use 400 pounds of
bone meal with 200 pounds Muriate of Pot-
ash peracre. The lawn must be well pre-
pared, and the surface made smooth and
fine. ‘The seed should be sown at the rate
of not less than five bushels per acre and
well raked in. In the South use a mixture
of redtop, perennial rye grass and herd
fescue in equal parts. Bermuda grass
will also make a good summer lawn in the
South, and, if mixed with Texas blue grass,
will give a green lawn the year round. |
Regular mowing with the lawn mower is es-
sential to a good lawn anywhere. The cut
grass should be allowed to remain as a mulch.
The top dressing suggested should be used
annually. If the growth of the grass is not _
rank enough, it will be very beneficial to oc-
casionally give a top dressing of nitrate of
soda, using 100 pounds per acre during the
growing season.

GRASS FOR MEADOWS.

Fertilizer.—A heavy growth of grass
means enrichment of the soil, and it is only

64 GRASS FOR MEADOWS.

on lands kept rich by liberal fertilization and
by rotation of crops that heavy crops of hay
can be cut. When meadows are kept mown
for several years, they should be annually
top dressed with 500 pounds of a fertilizer
- containing:

Available phosphoric acid, ro per cent.
Potash, II a

This application should be made in the
early spring or during the winter as top
dressing and harrowed in. An occasional
top dressing of lime may also be beneficial.
Under such treatment meadows will continue
toimprove every year. Sour grasses and
mosses will gradually disappear, and grasses
of good quality and clovers will take their
places. Not only will the quantity of hay
be largely increased, but its quality greatly
improved.

General Notes and Suggestions.—As with
the permanent pasture grasses, the kinds of
grass to be used will depend upon the nature
of the soil and the character of the climate.
Our country is so large that no general rules
can be made for all.

For strong, clay loams or limestone Jands
from the mountains of Virginia northward,

GRASS FOR MEADOWS. 65

the time-honored Timothy grass (Phleum
pratense) is as yet unrivaled for yield and

salable quality. It is commonly mixed with
corn, but the combination is not as success-
ful as a mixture of clover with an earlier
grass. On moist lands, sow redtop grass
with the Timothy to give it a dense bottom.
From central and eastern Virginia south-
ward, Timothy grass is not the best hay
grass, On clay uplands in the South a mix-
ture of orchard grass, fall meadow fescueand
fail meadow oats grass will make the best
hay and heaviest crop. A little red clover
should be mixed with this, as all are early
and can be cut together. On the sandy
lands of the southern coast plain, the advis-
ability of attempting the culture of meadow
grasses on uplands is doubtful. On low,
black bottom lands, Johnson grass (Sor-
ghum Halepense) will give enormous crops at
several cuttings, but it is hard to break up,
and its scattered seeds are apt to start the
grass as a weed when not wanted. But for
yield of hay in the South it is unequalled.
Bermuda grass, also, on similar lands, will
make a choice hay. The annual grasses,
such as the native crab grass, will give won-
derful crops on heavily enriched soil.

66 HEMP AND HOPS,

HEMP.

Sow.—Hemp is best grown on soils
abounding in humus. The mechanical
texture of the soil is not so important, pro-
vided it is kept well drained and fertile.
When the soil is fertile, hemp is often grown
year after year on the same land.

Fertilizer.—Hemp is a gross feeder, par-
ticularly upon potash, Use per acr2 800 lbs.
of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 4% per cent,

Potash, 9 se

Nitrogen, 5% =

General Notes and Suggestions.—Hemp
originated in the Chinese territory, but is
now cultivated in all parts of the world.
When grown on soils abounding in humus
and in a northern latitude, it yields a finer
fibre than when grown in hot countries,

HOPS.

Sowl.—High, dry, loamy soils are best
suited for hops.

Fertilizer.—This plant is a perennial, and
therefore occupies the land for years. The
preparation of the land preceding the plant-
ing should be deep and perfect and the sub-

HOPS AND HORSE RADISH. 67

soil should be loosened. Use per acre 1,000
lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.
Potash, BO} eae
Nitrogen, . 3

ée

It is to be noted that the amount of potash
for hops should be large, and a larger per-
centage of potash than the above recom-
mended may be used with profit, while care
should be taken not to use too large quanti-
ties of phosphoric acid and nitrogen; if this
precaution is not observed the product will
be of large size, but the quality will be
inferior. Hops are grown from cuttings of
the roots set in holes eight inches below the
surface, and are trained on poles and wire.
The plant is dicecious, that is, the male
blossoms are borne on one plant and the
female on another. The female blooms are
the hops of commerce. It was formerly
thought necessary to have a proportion of
male plants, but this is not now practiced.

HORSE RADISH.

Sovl.—A deep but not heavy clay loam is
best suited for horse radish.

68 HORSE RADISH, LENTILS AND LETTUCE.

Fertiizer.—Use per acre 600 lbs. of a fer-
tilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent.
Potash, He aT dae
Nitrogen, A OOO

LENTILS.

Soz/.—Lentils flourish well upon light marl
or light loamy soil, or even upon dry, stony
soil rich in lime. On such soils peas would
not grow well.

Rotation and Ferttlizer.—Grain or hoed
crops should precede lentils. Use the same
fertilizer as for peas.

LETTUCE.

Soz.—In outdoor culture the soil best
adapted to this crop is a mellow loam, well
enriched with nitrogenous fertilizers, as the
crispness and quality depend largely upon
the rapidity of its growth. Lettuce is now
grown in large quantities under glass in
winter in specially prepared soil made of
rotted grass sods and manure.

Fertilizer.—Use per acre 1,000 lbs. of a
fertilizer containing:

LUCERNE AND LUPINE. 69

Available phosphoric acid, 6 per cent.

Potash, fe) it

Nitrogen, 5 .

When grown in coldframes, use to each
3x 6 foot sash, one pound of the following
mixture :

Available phosphoric acid, 934 per cent.

Potash, 15

Nitrogen, re ai

General Notes and Suggestions.—In the
open ground lettuce can be planted between
early cabbages, and then cut out before the
cabbages need all the space. In this case
they will not need independent fertilization.

LUCERNE.
(SEE ALFALFA.)

LUPINE.

Soz/,—Lupine does best, both as a source
of seed and for green fodder, upon very
light sandy soil, poorin lime. Heavy loams
and clays are not favorable for the yellow
variety, but the other varieties will do fairly
well upon them.

Rotation and Ferttlizer.—There is not
much choice as to rotation, as this crop does
well upon the poorest soils. To obtain the

70 LUPINE.

largest amount of seed we may plant 1t after
grain or potatoes. For green manure the
lupine can follow winter rye and be sown
directly on the piowed up stubble. It will
grow to such anextent that when it is plowed _
under the result will be equal to a light
manuring with stable manure.

As a fertilizer use per acre from 300 to 500
pounds of kainit.

The lupine needs a large amount of potash
to grow to perfection, but it does not seem
to be responsive toapplications of phosphate.
Lime is positively injurious to this plant.

General Notes and Suggestions,—The
lupine may not do well on soil upon which it
is planted for the first time, for the reason
that the bacteria necessary forits growth are
not sufficiently present. Continued planting
will finally adapt the soil to this crop. By
means of exact scientific experiments it has
been proved that in a sterilized soil contain-
ing no organic matter or life, no root nodules
can be formed. Such a soil must first be
charged with the bacteria, either by means
of a watery solution of good soil, or from the
root nodules themselves. Only when this
has been done successfully can the nodules
be developed, ana the nitrogen be assimi-

MANGEL-WURZEL AND MIL.FT. ry!

lated. Most kinds of soil contain these bac-
teria, and only in rare cases is it necessary
to supply them. Such a case might be
necessary upon a reclaimed swamp where
considerable fire had been applied in the
work of reclaiming. According to experi-
ments made in reclaiming swamp lands at
the Experiment Station in Bremen, the soil
was made fit for lupines by the addition of
small quantities of soil containing clover
roots from a field where clover had been
successfully grown.

MANGEL-WURZEL. \
(SEE BEETS.)

MILLET.

Soil.—These grasses require a rich, moist
loam to make a good crop. They thrive well
also on low peaty or marshy soils.

Fertilizer.—They should be manured like
the other grasses,

General Notes and Suggestions.—Under the
name of millet are included a number of dif-
ferent species of annual grasses. Panicum
miliaceum, or common millet, is grown
largely for hay. Italian, or golden millet,
German millet, golden wonder millet and

72 MINT AND MUSTARD.

Japanese miliet, all belong to Setaria [talica
and are all annuals. Sennisetum spicatum
is pearl millet or cat-tail millet. These are
all valuable forage plants of quick summer
growth. All should be cut as soon as fairly
out of bloom, except the pearl millet, which
should be cut before the flower heads are
fairly out, when it will grow again. They
are exhaustive crops, and their place can be
taken te advantage by cow peas or annual
clover.

MINT.

Soi.—Alluvial, clay loam, or peaty soils,
which must not be overcharged with surplus
water, are recommended for mint.

Fertilizer.—Use per acre 790 lbs. of a fer-
tilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent.

Potash, | ry

Nitrogen, 4 sy

MUSTARD.

Soil.—Mustard grows on any soil, but pre-
fers a medium rich loam.

Retation and Fertilizer.—Mustard, when
grown for seed, can follow an early crop of
crimson clover, or in the South a crop of

OATS. 73

early potatoes. Use per acre 300 lbs. of a
fertilizer containing :
Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent.
Potash, 8 es
Nitrogen, 3 a
General Notes and Suggestions.—Mustard
has often been grown as green manure.
When thus treated it does not enrich the
soil in nitrogen, for it does not belong to the
so-called leguminous plants, and has not the
property of absorbing nitrogen from the air.
The advantage of raising it for green manure
consists in furnishing humus to the soil, and
also in preventing leaching during the win-
ter. If leguminous crops can be substituted,
they will be preferable to mustard as green
manure.

OATS.

Soil.—Oats adapt themselves to all sorts
of soil better than any other cereal. They
thrive on thin uplands and do excellently on
reclaimed swamp lands. They are not par-
ticular as to the physical character of the
soil, but usually prefer a mellow loam.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—When sown in
the spring, as is usual in the North, they do
well after a crop of Indian corn planted the

74 OATS.

‘previous season. Winter oats cannot follow
acorn crop north of Virginia, since they
should be sown in September, before the
corn is out of the way. Spring oats will nct
need fertilizer when following a well
manured corn crop of the previous year, or
when planted on new ground, or on re-
claimed swamp lands.

Winter oats do best after a crop of peas or
clover grown for pasturage. In this case
no nitrogenous fertilizer need be used in
autumn, though a light dressing of 30 to 50
pounds of nitrate of soda may be profitably
applied inthespring. In South Carolina such
an application is found to make a wonderful
increase in the crop. On light land it would
be best to give the winter oats 4oo lbs. of a
fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, 5 ‘

Nitrogen, a
All experiments tend to show that for oats
it is important that a fair percentage of
nitrogen be supplied in the fertilizer, even
though they follow a nitrogen gathering
crop.

General Notes and Suggestions.—Spring
oats do best in northern latitudes, but the

OLIVE, 75

varieties of winter oats usually sown from
Virginia southward are doubtless hardy
enough anywhere in the winter wheat belt.
Thorough compacting of the soil is as im-
portant in the culture of oats as in that of
wheat, but a more shallow drilling is better.
A depth of three inches has been found best
for wheat, and two inches for oats.

Both oats and wheat, in common with
most small grains, suffer from the attacks of
smut (wstzlago). The spurs of these fungous
plants attach themselves to the grain. When
the grain is planted they germinate and
enter the tissues of the plant at an early
stage of its growth. The best plan to de-
stroy the smut in wheat, barley or oats is to
keep the seed 15 minutes in water heated to
132144 degrees Fahrenheit. An accurate
thermometer should be used and the tem-
perature carefully maintained at the given
point.

OLIVE.

Sozl.—The olive thrives best on calcareous,
gravelly, and dry soils, in an arid climate.

Fertilizer.—Phosphate and potash fertiliz-
ers are needed for the olive. Sow crimson
clover among the trees in September, and

76 ONIONS,

plow underin May, using with the clover
300 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent.

Potash, 8 ‘a

General Notes and Suggestions,—The cli-
mate of the California foothills seems to suit
the olive best, and olive oil is becoming an
important article of commerce. While olive
trees will grow on poor soils, yet they will
repay careful cultivation and feeding.

ONIONS,

Soz/.—Onions do best upon a light, loamy
soil and .one that has been kept free from
weeds by careful culture. They can be
grown a number of years on the same land
if properly fertilized. Onions thrive well
on soil which contains much humus, and
which is consequently retentive of moisture.
Muck soils are often selected for onion
farms.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—It is well to have
onions preceded by a crop which frees the
soil from weeds, as, for example, potatoes.
Onions need lime for their development, and
to make good crops they require heavy
manuring. Commercial fertilizers are bet-
ter for onions than animal manures, since

THE ORANGE AND LEMON. a4

the former contain no seed producing weeds.
Use per acre’1,500 lbs. of a fertilizer -con-

taining:
Available phosphoric acid, 6 per cent.
Potash, 7 zh
Nitrogen, 4 a

General Notes and Suggestions.—The com-
mon practice in the South has been to use
sets or small bulbs grown the previous year
from thickly sown seed. But good crops
can be raised anywhere from the black seed
by sowing early. From Virginia south-
ward sow the seed in February. Sets for
growing early-grown onions should be
planted in the fall. Stable manure is also
objectionable, for the reason that it fosters
the onion maggot. If the onion farm is
located on muck soil, a maximum quantity
of phosphoric acid and potash should be ap-
plied and only a small amount of nitrogen,
because such soils are rich in the latter and
poor in the former ingredients. ‘Too much
nitrogen will also retard the ripening and
curing.

THE ORANGE AND LEMON.

Sow.—A deep, mellow and well drained
soil is necessary for oranges. Good groves

78 THE ORANGE AND LEMON.

can be made on quite sandy land if attention
is paid to fertilization and the growing of
nitrogen gathering crops. Black, rich ham-
mock land in Florida will also make fine
oranges if well drained.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—The orange needs
ample supplies of lime, particularly when
grown on black land. The phosphatic rock
now being dug so plentifully in Florida, will
make a good application to orange trees on
hammock land. It should be finely pulver-
ized and used at the rate of not less than one
ton per acre, as it becomes available for
plant food very slowly. If heavily applied
in connection with 200 pounds or more of sul-
phate of potash per acre, good results may
be expected. It is a good plan to sow crim-
son clover at the beginning of the rainy sea-
son. ‘Tramp it down and permit it to decay
in winter, when the crop is being gathered,
and then plow it underin the spring. If no
leguminous crops are raised, the following
fertilizer is recommended:

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent.

Potash, 12 or

Nitrogen, 3 Q

(Potash in the form of sulphate.)

Apply 20 lbs: to each tree twice a year.

{

PARSNIPS, PEACH AND ALMOND. 79

First application from November 15 to De-
cember 15, and second application from May
15 to June 15.

General Notes and Suggestions.—The great
success of the orange crop in Florida and
California shows that we can excel any other
country in the fine quality of the fruit pro-
duced. For shipping to European countries
the varieties called russets are not desirable,

PARSNIPS.

Soil.—The same soil is recommended as
for carrots.

Fertilizer.—The parsnip requires about
one-fifth more plant food than the carrot;
and as regards the amount of phosphoric
acid, in comparison with that required by
the carrot, the quantity might with advan-
tage be doubled.

PEACH AND ALMOND.

Soil,—The peach and almond thrive ona
light upland and on quite sandy soil.

Fertilizer.—The following manurial treat-
ment is recommended for peach orchards:
In August sow crimson clover between the
rows of trees, and plow it under in April or

80 PEACH AND ALMOND.

May of the following year, and add at the
same time 1,000 lbs. of a fertilizer contain-
ing:
Available phosphoric acid, 5 per cent.
Potash, 7 a

If leguminous crops are not raised in the or-
chard, use from 100 to 200 lbs. of nitrate of
soda per acre. Cultivate until the fruit is
ripe, and then sow clover again. In this
way the orchard will be kept healthy and the
trees will live longer. When the trees, being
naturally short-lived, ultimately fail, the
soil will be in a condition to grow any crop.
A heavy application of potash will make the
peach trees thrifty, and they will resist
longer the attacks of the ‘‘ yellows.’’

General Notes and Suggestions,—The
famous peach sections are in the sandy soils
of Delaware and in the long leaf pine region
of Moore County, North Carolina. The al-
mondis longer lived than the peach. The hard
shell almond is hardy in latitudes from 40
degrees southward. The soft shell almond
thrives best in a dry climate like California,
Both of these should have regular but shal-
low culture during all the growing seasonas
long as they live. In locations south of the

PEANUT. 8I

State of Pennsylvania, both peach and al-
mond should be planted fully exposed to the
north. If plantedin the South in a warm,
sunny exposure, they bloom out in winter
and the blossoms are frequently destroyed
by a return of cold.

PEANUT.

Soz/,—A sandy soil rich in lime is import-
ant. No.other will make a good crop.

Fertilizer.—The peanut being a legumi-
nous plant, does not need applications of
nitrogenous manures. Lime is very essential
to this crop, especially if the soil abounds in
vegetable matter. But the great need of all
these legumes is potash, and to make potash
most available there should be plenty of phos-
phoric acid present. If well supplied with
these fertilizers, the plant will acquire from
the air all the nitrogen needed for its growth.
A poor soil with proper fertilizers will make
a better crop of peanuts than a very fertile
soil. Use per acre 600 lbs. of a fertilizer
containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 9 per cent.

Potash, 15 $
Give also an ample supply of lime.

82 PEARS, AND PEAS—COW.

PEARS.

Sow.—Pears require a soi! similar to the
apple, but unlike the apple they thrive on
moist lands on our southern coast.

Ferttlizer.—As regards fertilizers, pears
should be treated about in the same manner
as the apple.

General Notes and Suggestions.—The dis-
ease called ‘‘fire blight” is always worse on
cultivated pear trees. Therefore plant them
in a sod, and keep the sod fertile and regu-
larly mown like a lawn. Since fire blight is
a fungous disease, the best remedy is to re-
move all diseased branches and trees and
‘burn them up. The saws used for the pur-
pose should be kept clean as they might
transfer the disease from one tree to an-
other.

PEAS—COW.

Soil.—The cow pea does well on any soil,
and it will grow on the poorest lands if
properly fertilized. A sandy soil probably
suits it best.

Fertilizer.—Like other legumes it needs
no artificial application of nitrogen, but is a
greedy feeder upon potash and phosphoric
acid. If plenty of these food elements is

PEAS—COw. 83

supplied the growth will be enormous, and a
very heavy crop of forage will be obtained,
giving food for stock and permanently im-
proving the soil at the same time. While
peas will grow on the poorest land their best
effects are only obtained when arank growth
is produced by fertilization with potash and
phosphoric acid. ‘The capacity of the plant
to collect nitrogen is in proportion to its de-
velopment. It is therefore of the utmost
importance to feed well the plants that are
going to supply the soil for other crops. Use
per acre 4oo lbs. of a fertilizer containing:
Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent.
Potash, ie) ae
General Notes and Sug gestions.—The plant
cultivated in the South under the name of
field or cow pea is really a bean. The proper
botanical name of the plant is a matter of
much confusion and uncertainty, but there is
no doubt as to its value to the farmer, parti-
cularly from Virginia southward. It is
valuable both for hay and as one of the most
efficient o: the nitrogen collecting crops
grown, and by its use the Southern farmer
can do more towards the improvement of
his land in one summer than the Northern
farmer can do with clover in two. One of

84 PEAS—GREEN.

the best varieties for green manuring as well
as for seed, is the so-called ‘‘ wonderful or
unknown pea.”’ Cut the peas when podded
but not yet ripe, and cure them for cow feed.
The stubble, when well plowed and prepared,
makes the best possible preparation for a
crop of wheat, better than if the fertilizer
had been all applied directly to the wheat.
When used for this purpose from one to two
bushels of seed should be used per acre.
Much interest has of late been shown in this
crop in localities far north of where it has
formerly been grown, and favorable results
have been obtained as far north as northern
Ohio.
PEAS—GREEN.

Soil.—A good sandy loam or light clay
loam is recommended.

Fertiliscey.—As the pea belongs to the
leguminous plants it needs little or no appli-
cation of nitrogen when intended for mature
growth. But as the garden pea is grown
early and used green it is benefited by a
nitrogenous application. Use per acre goo
Ibs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, ee

Nitrogen, re Te

PINEAPPLE, 85

General Notes and Suggestions.—Peas are
quite liable to a disease which retards the
time of ripening and the full development of
the seed; but if mineral fertilizers are
applied in sufficient amounts the injury from
diseases is much reduced or even avoided.
In the South green peas can be raised very
profitably for shipping North. They are
then sown about the ist of December and
are ready for market the rst of March. The
raising of this crop on a large scale requires
considerable experience, but is quite profit-
able. It will bring as much as $300 per
acre net profit. ‘The expense of raising will
not be over $1.00 per crate of one bushel,
and it will bring from. $1.50 to $5.00 per
crate. A crop of one hundred: and fifty
bushels per acre may be raised on an average.

PINEAPPLE,

Soi/.—A light sandy loam is the best for
pineapples.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—Before planting
a field of pineapples, it is well to raise upon
it for one season a good crop of cow peas.
These should be fertilized very heavily, say
with 800 pounds of kainit and 600 pounds of

86 PINEAPPLE.

acid phosphate peracre. During the early
growth of thepineapple plant it needs a con-
siderable amount of nitrogen. This is best sup-
plied by using cotton seed meal at the rate
of about 1,000 pounds per acre. Astheplant
becomes older, considerable amounts of
potash and phosphoric acid are needed. The
usual applications of acid phosphate, etc.,
are liable to produce injury by destroying
the foliage and centres of growth. It is
therefore well to use phosphoric acid in the
form of bone meal. A grown up pineapple
field. may receive per annum 2,000 lbs. of a
fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent.
Potash, | be eee
Nitrogen, ump
(Potash in the form of Sheets )

To prevent injury to foliage some special
mechanical devices are sometimes used for
making these applications.

General Notes and Suggestions.—The only
portion of the United States in which pine-
apples can well be grown is the southeastern
part of Florida and the Indian River beyond
the frost line.

PLUMS AND POTATOES—IRISH, 87

PLUMS.

Soil, —All plums prefer a soil of a rather
compact and clayey nature, but will do well
on soil of quite a sandy character.

Fertilizer.—Like all hard wood trees,
plums require large supplies of potash, and
will ‘be greatly benefited by an annual
dressing of 1,000 lbs. of a fertilizer contain-
ing:

Available phosphoric acid, 5 per cent.
Potash, :.. 7 f

If the soil is poor in nitrogen, use from
100 to 200 pounds nitrate of soda in addition.

General Notes and Suggestions.—The
plums now in cultivation belong to a num-
ber of species native to several parts of the
world. Though they differ from each other
in many respects, their culture is the same.
The Japan plums are now the most popular,
as they suffer less from the attacks of in-
sects than the European sorts formerly
grown. Some of the American varieties,
such as the wild goose, have also been found
profitable for market fruit.

POTATOES—IRISH.

Soil.—Potatoes thrive best on a mellow
loam, well drained, and inclined rather to

88 POTATOES—IRISH.

sand than clay. Badly drained and heavy
soils produce smaller crops and potatoes of
poor quality.

Rotation and Ferttlzer.—The best of all
crops to precede potatoes is clover or a new
grass sod plowed under the previous fall.
It has been found that south of Maryland
the early crop of Irish potatoes needs a
more liberal supply cf nitrogen than in the
North, since the whole growth is made in
the early growing season, before bacterial
nitrification becomes active. Barnyard
manure seems to promote the fungous dis-
ease known as scab, so that potato growers
of experience now generally avoid barnyard
manures for Irish potatoes and depend
entirely upon commercial fertilizers. A
fertilizer rich in potash is essential. For
general purposes use per acre 700 lbs. of a
fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent.

Potash, II x

Nitrogen, 2 oy
Much larger quantities of the above-named
fertilizer are often used with much profit,
and we have heard of farmers using 2,000
pounds per acre, and obtaining the best pay-

POTATOES—IRISH. 89

ing results. Sulphate of potash is mostly em-
ployed as a source of potash for potatoes.
By observations that have been made, it
seems that the sulphate produces a better
quality, however. Some have experienced
that muriate produces a good quality, and as
high, if notahigher, yield than the sulphate.
A large crop of potatoes can be grown south
of Virginia from seed of the early crop,
planted in August. This crop does not re-
quire such heavy fertilization, and can be
grown after some well-manured early crop.
This late crop makes the best seed for plant-
ing the following spring.

General Notes and Suggestions.—Scabby
potatoes are so common and so inferior for
all purposes, that the recently discovered
method of prevention by Professor Bailey,
now used by many of the largest potato
growers of the country, is here given. The
disease is caused by a fungous growth. The
remedy is based upon the killing of the germ
producing the disease, and the material is
the same as used in antiseptic surgery.
‘‘The seed potato, either cut or whole, is
soaked for two hours in a weak solution of
corrosive sublimate and dried before plant-
ing.”

go POTATOES—SWEET.

POTATOES—SWEET.

Sozl.—The only soil in which sweet pota-
toes develop their best qualities is a sandy
soil. There must not be present an excess
of nitrogenous matter. |

Rotation and Fertilizer.—The sweet po-
tato crop does well after a cleanly cultivated
corn crop, but better upon a fall plowed
sod. When potatoes have been grown on
same land for years, and the vines left to
decay thereon, the soil is said to become ‘‘ po-
tato sick.” A heavy dressing of potash and
phosphoric acid overcomes the sickness, but
it is best to grow some other crop on the
land for a while. Use per acre 550 lbs. of
a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent.

Potash, 9 di

Nitrogen, 4 Wy
Sulphate of potash is generally preferred as
a source of potash for sweet potatoes. If
sweet potatoes are raised after corn, add from
50 to 100 pounds of nitrate of soda. If they
are planted after a fall-plowed sod, no nitro-
gen should be used. |

General Notes and Suggestions.—There is
no botanical relation between the sweet po-
tato and the Irish potato, although both are

PUMPKINS AND QUINCE. gl

called potatoes. The sweet potato belongs
to the same family of plants as the morning-
glory. The potato sprouts are set on shal-
low ridges, which should not be made too
high, as in such case potatos grow long and
unsightly, and in a dry season suffer more
from the drought.

PUMPKINS.

(SEE SQUASH.)

QUINCE.

Soi/.—Quinces, like plums, prefer a moist
clay soil, and seem to thrive better in the
vicinity of salt water. They need above all
a soil abounding in vegetable matter or
humus,

Fertilizer.—The fertilizer recommended
for the pear will do equally well for the
quince, but the latter seems satisfied with
lighter applications.

General Notes and Suggestions.—Quinces
are commonly treated with utter neglect, but
they will well repay good culture. They can
be easily grown from cuttings set in the open
groundin the fall. The best sorts are the
Schampion..’ for’ the .Seuth; -and”~ the

92 RADISHES.

\

‘Orange ” for the North. The trees should
be well cultivated when young, and when
they come into bearing the orchard should
be seeded down to grass and kept mown like
a lawn, and all the cut grass allowed to decay
on the land.

RADISHES.

Radishes, being grown mainly during the
early and cool season, need a liberal supply
of nitrogen as the more rapidly they are
grown the more crisp and palatable they are.
Market gardeners growradishes largely asa
catch crop, scattering the seed between
other crops which have been heavily
manured. ‘They are also sometimes sown in
the rows of early beets, as they come up
quickly and are soon pulled out of the way
before the beets get much size and need all
the room. Radishes, especially those with
long roots, like a deep and light soil. The
turnip-rooted kinds can be grown on much
shallower soil. A good fertilizer for radishes
per acre is 800 lbs. of the following mixture:

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent.
Potash, IO “
Nitrogen, 3 a

RAMIE AND RAPE, 93

RAMIE.

Soz/.—Sandy loam.

Fertilizer.—Laiberal fertilizing is necessary.
Frequently the plantations are resown but
once in twenty-five years. Apply compost,
mixed with the old leaves of the plant, as
well as 650 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 6 per cent.

Potash, 5 -

Nitrogen, 2 ep

General Notes and Suggestions.—The fer-
tilizer ought to makea quick growth of stalks,
in order to produce the best quality of fibre.
The crop is very exhausting to the soil, the
yield being 5 to 10 tons of dry stalks per
meres) Ut may. -be propagated cither” by
divisions of roots, cuttings, layers or seed.
iwoto four crops are cut per year. [tis
adapted to California and the Gulf States.

RAPE.

Soil.—Strong loam or clay, well supplied
with humus, is recommended. It does well
on thoroughly cultivated reclaimed marshes.

Rotation and Fertiliszer.—Al\most any crop
which leaves the soil in a friable condition,
such as hoed crops or green crops turned
under, may precede rape.

94 RASPBERRIES.

Use per acre 600 lbs. of a fertilizer contain-
ing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, Ort Ee peer

Nitrogen, ere

General Notes and Suggestions. —Rape is a
very heavy feeder, and stable manure is re-
commended in addition to artificial fertil-
izers,

RASPBERRIES.

Sow.—A deep, tich clay loam and a
northern exposure suit the plant well,

Fertilizer.—Use per acre 700 lbs. of a fer-
tilizer containing :

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent.

Potash, 5 aa ee

Nitrogen, a ae

General Notes and Suggestions.—Two gen-
eral classes of raspberries are cultivated.
and they are derived from several botanical
species. The two classes are the red rasp-
berries and the black caps. The former are
srown entirely from suckers and root cut-
tings, while the cap sorts are grown by root-
ing the tips of the shoots of the season as
they grow. Raspberries are much more at
home in the Northern States than in the

RHUBARB, 95

Southern. The red sorts are not worth
growing south of Maryland, but the black
caps do fairly well. The planting and cul-
ture are the same as recommended for black-
berries. The plantation should be renewed
every five years. The ground should be
thoroughly cultivated early in the season,
and then well mulched. Old canes should
be removed early in the spring.

RHUBARB.

As rhubarb is grown in gardens solely for
its leaf stalks, it is essential that these should
be induced to grow to the most complete de-
velopment. To this end adeep and very
fertile soil is essential. A soil of a clayey
nature and inclined to be moist is best
adapted to this crop, as it suffers quickly
from drought. Depth of soil is of the first
importance, for the large roots need plenty
of room for proper development. Good
rhubarb cannot be grown except on very rich
soil. There is no danger of getting it too
rich. Heavy applications of stable manure
make the best possible fertilization, but in
its absence mix 1,300 pounds of the follow-
ing fertilizer with twenty loads of black

96 RICE.

mold from the forest, and apply the whole
to an acre. Fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, me ag

Nitrogen, inet 7

The best crop to te rhubarb is
clover.

RICE.

Soil,—Water rice or swamp rice needs low
lands, diked and ditched for flooding and
draining. Upland rice is best grown on
black, peaty soils which never suffer from
drought.

Fertilizer.—Upon the peaty soils for up-
land rice no nitrogen is needed, but a dress-
ing of 300 lbs. acid phosphate and too Ibs.
muriate of potash per acre pays well.

Planters of water rice find that it pays well
to use 450 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 6 per cent.

Potash, Gi Sark ee

Nitrogen, Et as

Sometimes, asin Italy, about three bushels
of lupine seeds per acre are also sown upon
the rice fields. These lupine seeds gradu-
ally decay in the water, and furnish the
necessary nitrogen for the rice.

RUTA BAGAS AND RYE, 97

General Notes and Suggestions.—The
swamp rice constitutes the bulk of the rice
of commerce, and can only be grown in this
country from North Carolina south to the
Gulf. Its culture, to be profitable, must be
upon a large scale, and with an expensive
outfit. It needs a low muck soil.

In Eastern North Carolina and southward,
large quantities of upland rice are grown.
The seed is planted in hills ten inches to
fifteen inches apart, in rows wide enough to
admit of horse culture, each hill containing
a number of plants.

RUTA BAGAS.,
(See Turnips. )

RYE.

Sowl.—Rye does well upon soils light in
texture and containing but little nitrogen. A
soil rich in nitrogenous matter will produce
a rank growth of straw, but a deficient crop
of grain. It succeeds far better on light,
high, dry soil than upon low, heavy land.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—Rye comes in
‘very well after a crop of Indiancorn. If

put ona good clover sod or pea farm thé
growth of straw is apt to be too rank. It is

98 SOILING.

always best to put a hoed or cultivated crop,
either of corn or potatoes, before rye, to use
up any excess of nitrogen that may be pres-
entin the soil. Soil otherwise well suited
to rye is usually poorin potash. Ifitisina
fairly fertile condition, we should not use any
nitrogen at all. Use 350 lbs. of a fertilizer

containing:
Available phosphoric Acid, 11 per cent.
Potash, 6 2

General Notes and Suggestions.—From the
fact that rye requires but a small quantity of
nitrogen it is not wise to fertilize it with
stable manure.

SOILING.

Crops.—Vetches, crimson clover, red
clover, buckwheat, spurry, fodder corn,
fodder cabbage, etc.

The term ‘‘soiling” has been applied to
the practice of keeping cattle confined and
feeding them on green-cut-food. A much
larger number of animals can be kept on the
same piece of land than by pasturing them.
The practice is a good one, at times, even
where grazing is the usual practice, for in >
our climate there are times in almost “”
summer in which the pastures fail to give at.

SOILING. 99

adequate supply of food by reason of dry
weather. At such times, some crops planted
for cutting while green will te found of
great value. Few people fully realize the
quantity of food at can be cut from an
acre of fertile soil by keeping up a regular
succession of crops. The earliest crop that
is available for soiling purposes is, probably,
crimson clover, sown in the previous August.
The ordinary red clover will follow this
closely, with some fall sown rye to help it
out, and by the time these are used up,
early sown corn will be ready to cut. There
can be a regular succession of corn and cow
peas kept up until frost, and by sowing in
August, winter vetches can then be ready,
in the South, and, with rye, will furnish
green food most of the winter, and, if a silo
is at hand, the corn and pea. can be pre-
served for the winter supply. For the best
results in soiling it is essential that the land
be very fertile, and, if not naturally so, it
will be necessary to fertilize quite heavily at
the start. The clover, as we have said, will
not need nitrogenous fertilizers, but the
other crops should have a liberal supply of
eomplete fertilizer. After a little while, the
..creased production of manure will enable

LOO SORGHUM AND SPINACH.

the farmer to dispense with any artificial
manures, except an occasional application of
potash and phosphoric acid, for, unless some
food grown elsewhere is fed, these mineral
matters in the soil must eventually be ex-
hausted, and they cannot be obtained from
the air as the nitrogen can.

The same kinds of manure should be ap-
plied to these fodder crops, as previously
stated when discussing each separately.

SORGHUM.

Sozl.—Sorghum does well on a sandy loam
or gravelly soil, and on prairie soil, even
when comparatively dry.

Fertilizer.—See ‘‘ Sweet Corn.”

General Notes and Suggestions.—It is culti-
vated like corn, but does well, on drier
soils.

SPINACH.

Soil.—Spinach prefers a warm, light and
well-drained soil, and an abundance of nitro-
genous food. rt ie

Rotation and Fertilizer,—Market garden.
ers in the South sow it on land intended for

SP{NACH. Ior

the crop of early snap beans in spring, and
sow the seed in rows, two and a half to three
feet apart, in August or September. The
crop is cut out during winter, and enough
plant food is left in the soil to carry the crop
of beans through, and these are in turn fol-
lowed by melons, manured in the hill. Use
per acre 1,200 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.
Potash, Speier ee
Nitrogen, BED ots nee

General Notes and Suggestions.—Spinach
is one of our most hardy vegetables, and
stands the winters in nearly all parts of the
United States. There are a number of varie-
ties in cultivation, some with smooth and
some with prickly seeds. It was formerly
the practice to advise the sowing of the
prickly seeded sorts in the fall and the
smooth ones in spring, but there is really no
difference as to hardiness, and either can be
sown as may be convenient. The smooth
seeded sorts are more largely sown now than
the prickly varieties. ‘The most popular va-
tiety is the Norfolk Savoy leaved. The
Viroflay is probably the most productive
sort.

102 SPURRY, SQUASHES AND PUMPKINS,

SPURRY.

This plant has been brought into notice
lately as a forage plant, well adapted te
sandy soils. It has been found valuable on
the sandy lands of Michigan, but is of little
or no value in a warm climate. Care is
needed to prevent its becoming a trouble-
some weed. The lands which are in the
best mechanical condition for it are usually
deficient in potash, and a fertilizer well sup-
plied with this is of the first importance.
Use per acre 1,500 lbs. of a fertilizer con-

taining:
Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.
Potash, io Ma kr
Nitrogen 1 2/5

SQUASHES AND PUMPKINS.

The treatment advised for melons will ap-
ply equally well to these crops. Where In-
dian corn is grown on rich land in the North-
ern States, it is a common practice to plant
pumpkins and the winter varieties of squashes
among the corn, and it is claimed that a
good cropof pumpkins is gotten without any
injury to the corn crop. In this case no fur-
ther manure will be needed than that applied
to the corn crop. Where these plants are

i

:

STRAWBERRY. 103

grown by themselves they will thrive with
the same treatment as melons, but they pre-
fer a stronger and more clayey soil than
watermelons. Use per acre 1,600 lbs. of a
fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 5 per cent.
Potash, 5 ue
Nitrogen, — vee

STRAWBERRY.

Sow.—Strawberries want a rich, moist
soil, One in which water is found at a depth
of only a few feet, and which has a porous
subsoil through which moisture can freely
tise by capillary attraction, will be found
an ideal strawberry soil. Water or moisture
is of the first importance, and if a straw-
berry plantation is situated so that it can be
irrigated, far better results can be obtained
than on land not so treated. Sandy loam is
the best.

Ferttlizer.—The soil for strawberries can
hardly be too rich, but heavy manuring with
barnyard manures tends to make the land
weedy; therefore, artificial fertilizers are
preferable. Before planting apply roo lbs.
high grade sulphate of potash per acre. It
is well to set the plants in rows four feet

104 STRAWBERRY.

apart, and the plants one foot apari in the
row. Turn manures in along the rows so
that the row becomes matted with plants the
first season. Keep land between rows well
cultivated. The following spring apply per
acre 1,500 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, Manan tc

Nitrogen, ai hs Anes
Work these in by spreading between the
rows and cultivating.

General Notes and Suggestions.—The straw-
berry has been more improved in America
than elsewhere. Years ago growers tried to
raise the European Fragaria Vesca here, but
gradually discovered that success here de-
pended upon growing varieties suited to our
climate. In the past twenty years so many
fine seedlings have been raised from Amer-
ican stock that are fully suited to our needs
that none of the European sorts are now im-
ported at all. Our own sorts are much
superior for our climate.

In selecting plants care should be taken to
secure varieties of both sexes; failure to
give due attention to this essential of straw-
berry culture has frequently resulted in
barren beds. If transplanted in August, a

SUNFLOWER. 105

crop may be harvested the following year.
After the plants have borne one full crop in
the second season from setting, plow them
down for a crop of late cabbage or potatoes
in same land, and set another bed every sea-
son. You will thus always have a bed at its
best each year. °

SUNFLOWER.

Soz/.—The sunflower is adapted to all soils,
but will do best on deep, strong loam with
plenty of moisture.

Rotation and Fertiizer.—Sunflowers may
follow any crop, and they come in well after
a buried clover sod. Use per acre 500 lbs.
of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, 8 at

Nitrogen, 3 A

General Notes and Suggestions,—Sun-
flowers should not be grown, as is commonly
done, around fields, or between rows of other
crops, as they are very exhausting to both
fertility and moisture. The seed is a most
useful fattening grain, particularly for sheep
and fowls; and from the seeds an oil is
made which is said to be fully equal to olive
oil for table use.

106 TOBACCO.

TOBACCO.

Sowl.—There is no crop grown which
varies so much in quality, because of the soil
upon which it is grown and the fertilizers
used, as tobacco. For a leaf of high quality
for smoking purposes, it is essential that the
soil be light and tich in vegetable matter.
A low, rich clayey soil will produce a rank
and heavy crop, but will not produce tobacco
of fine quality.

The fine gold leaf tobacco of North Caro-
lina, so highly prized for cigarettes and
chewing tobacco, is grown upon a light
gravelly soil. A red clay produces some-
times a fine, rich mahogany-colored leaf of
high value. Limestone soils, too, will pro-
duce tobacco of high grade.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—'The heaviest
crops, though not the highest in quality,
are grown after a crop of clover. The next
year, with proper fertilization, the same
land will bring a crop of higher value. Pot-
ash is o: the utmost importance to this crop,
which consumes large quantities of it; but
in order to obtain a leaf that will burn well,
all the forms of potash salts containing chlo-
rine, such as kainit or muriate, must be
avoided. Use only the pure sulphate of pot-

TOMATOES, 107

-ash. Stable manure is preferably applied to
the crop preceding tobacco, rather than di-
rectly to the tobacco. Use per acre 600 lbs.
of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent.

Potash, IO SR

Nitrogen, ° SG 1) Sah ae
At the Virginia Agricultural Experiment
Station, nitrogen in the form of dried blood
gave most profitable results.

General Notes and Suggestions.—As most
tobacco is used for smoking purposes, the
chief aim of the grower is to obtain a leaf
with good burning qualities. Heavy loam,
clay or peat soils will not do this. The plant
being of tropical origin, a warm soil is essen-
tial, and one with but moderate quantities of
organic matter produces the leaf of finest
texture. Rank organic manures, tankage,
fish, etc., must be avoided, as well as all ma-
terials containing chlorine.

TOMATOES.

Sotl.—Tomatoes are not particular as to
soil, but for the production of early fruit, the
soil should be light and warm. For late
tomatoes a heavy soil is best. ,

Fertilizer.—The early crop grown South
for shipment North should be well fed. On

108 TOMATOES.

an acre use 1,200 lbs. of a fertilizer con-

taining:
Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent.
Potash, ha
Nitrogen, et EN

The tomato needs a good supply of readily
available nitrogen, but the nitrogen will not
supply allits wants, and, therefore, good
supplies of the acid phosphate and muriate
of potash are needed.

General Notes and Suggestions.—To get
tomatoes early it is necessary to start early
and sow the seed under glass, so as to have
the plants well advanced by the time it is
safe to put them in the open ground. The
best planis to start the plants in shallow
boxes of rich soil in a greenhouse, orina
sunny window of a well warmed room. In
any given locality the seed should be sown
fully ten weeks before the time when it will
be safe to transplant them in the open air,
so that the planting will vary with latitude.
As soon as the plants have developed the
second set of leaves, transplant them into
other boxes a little deeper, and plant them
two inches apart. Three weeks before the
time to set them out in the open air, transplant
them in a coldframe four inches apart, and

TREES AND SHRUBS IN NURSERY. Tog

protect with sashes at night and on cold
days, but expose to the air at every favorable
opportunity, so as to gradually harden them
to the open air and make them stout and
short.

Plants treated in this way will transplant
with ease, and come into fruit a month or
more sooner than those sown in the open
air. For late use and for canning it is only
necessary to sow the seed in the open air as
soon as the soil is warm in spring, and trans-
plant when of sufficient size. In field culture
the plants are set 4 by 5 feet apart, and cul-
tivated like corn. In gardens where room
is scarce, it is well to train them up in some
manner. For this purpose nothing is better
than the common galvanized wire netting
sold for chicken yards, fastened to stakes.
That three feet wide is sufficiently wide.
Where there is plenty of room larger crops
can be had by allowing the plants to fall on
the ground. Where tomatoes are affected
by blight, spraying with Bordeaux mixture
will be found an efficient protection.

TREES AND SHRUBS IN NURSERY.

Soil,—For general nursery purposes a soil
of medium te.7ture, deeply worked and well

IIo TREES AND SHRUBS IN NURSERY.

supplied with decayed vegetable matter, is
needed. A fertile clay loam, which has
been well cultivated in grain, grass and
clover for some years, and which has been
for some years in sod, is in the best condi-
tion to grow trees and shrubbery.

Fertilizer.—lf nursery stock is located on
good soil, nitrogenous manures should be
but sparingly used, as they tend to the pro-
duction of a rank and sappy growth of wood
which does not ripen well. The ashes of all
hard-wooded trees abound in potash, and it
is evident that they should be well supplied
with this food, so that they can make that
firm and well ripened growth which is essen-
tial to their success in a cold climate, ora
warm one, either. But the potash will hardly
have its best effects unless an abundance of
phosphoric acid is present. Use per acre
600 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.
Potash, des.) oh
Nitrogen, a Rey” thle

General Notes and Suggestions.—The land
should be well and deeply plowed in the
autumn previous to planting, and should be
further deepened by running a subsoil plow

TURNIPS AND VETCH. Ili

in each furrow so as to break it fully fifteen
inches deep.
TURNIPS.

Sow.—Turnips thrive best upon a mellow
loam, fairly intermediate between clay and
sand; but fine crops can be made on any
sandy land, well supplied with food.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—Turnips can fol-
low after clover, lucerne, grain, and after
grain fodder crops gathered early.

As they are of quick growth, they needa
liberal supply of nitrogenous food. Both
cow manure and sheep manure are better
than horse stable manure for turnips. If
these are wanting, use per acre 450 lbs. of a
fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent.

Potash, 8 ef

Nitrogen, Pants 19
VETCH.

Sozl.—Vetch succeeds almost equally well
upon heavy or light soils, provided the drain-
age is good, and the land not subject to
drought. In the South it flourishes on the
most sandy soils, and makes a wonderful
growth on rich lands.

Fertilizer.—Being one of the legumes, the
vetch, like clover, does not need nitrogenous

I12 WHEAT.

fertilizers. The same treatment recom-
mended for crimson clover will do for the
vetch,

General Notes and Sug gestions. —The vetch
isa very useful plant for winter pasture in
the South; but in the Northern States it
should not be sown until spring.

It does well sown among growing corn, or
alone after corn is off. Vetches make good
hay, but a very light product for the appear-
ance when growing.

WHEAT.

Sozl,—For winter wheat the best soil is a
rather compact clay loam, thoroughly well
drained. Soils of quite a sandy character can
be made to produce fair crops of wheat by good
culture. Spring wheat can be grown to advan-
tage in northern sections of the country, and
on lands so well filled with humus, and of
such a moist character, that winter wheat
would be thrown out by the frost. Heavy,
tenacious, clayey soils are not adapted to
winter wheat.

Rotation and Fertilizer.—The best place
in a farm rotation for wheat is after a crop
of clover or Southern cow peas. Good crops
can also be grown after corn or tobacco, but

WHEAT. 113

when wheat is the leading crop it should
have the best place in the rotation.

For winter wheat, if the preceding crop
was clover or peas, no nitrogen at all need
be applied in the fall; but on most lands it
may be found profitable to give a top dress-
ing of nitrate of soda just before the rapid
growth begins in spring. Another advan-
tage in this is that the fertilizer containing
phosphoric acid and muriate of potash needed,
can, if intimately mixed, be readily applied
with the drill at the time of sowing. If or-
ganic nitrogen, as in cotton seed, is used,
it should be applied at time of sowing. Use
per acre 400 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 6 per cent.
Potash, 5 zi
Nitrogen, 3 ‘

If nitrate of soda is to be used in the
spring, we would leave out two-thirds of the
nitrogen in the fall, and use 100 lbs. nitrate of
soda inthe spring. For spring wheat, apply
400 lbs. of a fertilizer containing:

Available phosphoric acid, 9 per cent.

Potash, es re

Nitrogen, 2 7

For light soil increase potash in the first
formula.

114 WHEAT.

General Notes and Suggestions.—There are
many varieties of wheat, but the general
treatment is the same for all. The preced-
ing crop of clover or peas should always be
mown or pastured off closely, and if to be
followed by winter wheat, the soil should be
broken deeply not later than August 10.
Earlier would be better, for, while the
breaking should be deep, it should be done
early enough to get the remaining growth
well decayed, and the soil settled into that
compact condition favorable to wheat. All
weed growth should be kept down, after
breaking, by frequent harrowings and roll-
ings, so that by sowing time the surface shall
be fine and altogether free from clods. For
spring wheat, the plowing should be deferred
as late as possible in the fall before the
ground freezes, so that frosts may mellow the
surface and a single harrowing sufficein April.

The time for sowing winter wheat varies
from September in the northern part of the
winter wheat belt to November on the
southern limit. In the principal winter
wheat sections, the 1oth of October is gene-
rally considered the best time. Spring
wheat is sown as early as the soil can be
worked in the spring.

DISTANCES RECOMMENDED FOR
PLANTING.

Apples (standard)....
Apples (dwarf)

20 to 30 feet each way.

6 to ike) ¢é 66 66

Pears (standard)... . 20
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a

Approximate Average Analysis ef the Fresh Orange.
By PROF J. J. EARLE, Chemist Florida Experiment Station,

The average is taken from 15 varieties analyzed by Prof,
Earle.

Weight of one Orange, in grammes, A sie - 203.45
4 &“ 6G ‘© ounces, e 2 ie m 7.27
es ‘€ 44,000 Oranges, in ounces pean fair average

yield per acre) - - - 319.88

Moisture, - - - - - - - - percent. 87.33

Nitrogen, - - - = - - - - da 12

Organic matter, exclusive of nitrogen, - ue II.55

Silica, - - - - - - - - - ‘ .O10

Sulphuric acid, - - - - - - se .043

Phosphoric acid, - - - - - . - rf .082

Ferric oxide, - . - : - - - *s .005

Lime, - - - - - - - - = phi: +232

Magnesia, - - - - - - - ts .048

Potash, - - - . - - - - - 508

Soda, - - - - ~ - - - es .O4I

Chlorine, - - - - - - - - “ .OIL

QUANTITY OF FERTILIZER IN 1,000 ORANGES.

Silica, - - - - =i, bem phe, 1 =i) 2 OlnGcES, -73
Sulphuric acid, - - - - - - 4 3.10
Phosphoric acid, - Sa Pet deme ik 8 4 6.02
Ferric oxide, - - - < - - - Aris
Lime, ats - - My AA Fi i Ae ot 16.69
Magnesia, - - - - - - - * 3-53
Potash, - - - ee Me (an atc: Ge u 37-63
Soda, - - - - Sith = AOS - or 3.02
Chlorine, - - - - - - - be .82
Nitrogen, - - - + - - - - <s 8.75
QUANTITY OF FERTILIZER IN 44,000 ORANGES.

Silica, - - - - . - - - inounces, 32.12
Sulphuric acid, - ary is Sty bie a 136.4

Phosphoric acid, - - - - - y 264.88
Ferric oxide, - - - = - - - ‘x 18.04
8 a a i i 734-4

Magnesia, - est oS Pal Re et oe be Ss 155.32
Potash, - = - = - - - - ee 1655.72
Soda, BAA Ss - - se eee Pea atone ng 132.88
Chlorine, EH | Aes aS oan Oy ahead em tee i 36.08

Nitrogen, - = : - s zs L E ‘“ 385.00

EXTRACTS

ABOUT

POTASH: -HERTILIZATION

TAKEN FROM THE
ANNUAL REPORTS FOR 1890

OF THE

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS
IN THE

UNIVED STATES,

Barley
Beans .

Corn!) . ‘

Cotton ; ‘ =
Oats - > s 2

Peas
Potatoes
Rye F

Sorghum . . 5

Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes .
Wheat 5 .

Potash as Insecticide

°. . .
* . *
° ? e
. . 4

°

BARLEY.

Indiana. Exp. Station, Bulletin No. 33. Oct., 1890

In a system of farming, having in view larger crops and
permanent improvement of the land, phosphoric acid and
potash should be used in considerably greater amounts than
the crops require, while nitrogen compounds should be used
in amounts not greatly in excess of the needs of the crop.

Exp. with Barley.

Fertilizers were applied astop dressing 17 days after sowing.
Complete fertilizers produced the highest increase of 12.28
bushels per acre (total yield 21.5 bushels). Fertilization gene-
rally increases the proportion of grain of a barley crop.

Mains. Exp. Station, Annual Report for 1890.

Clay Loam.—Experiments for the purpose of comparing the
effect of soluble with insoluble phosphate and of stable
manure with complete fertilizers. Stable manure produced
the lowest yield of grain of barley.

BEANS.

Rhode Island. Exp. Station, Annual Report, 1896.

The experiments were made with single fertilizing elements
enly, and not with combinations, as should have been. The
application of sulphate of dotash increased the average yield of
twelve varieties 38.1 %, and the application of muriate of potash
only increased the yield 20.4 %.

CORN (MAIZE).

Connecticut. Experiments by Mr. M. H. Dean, Lime
Rock.

Soil, light loam, with very little vegetable matter.

320 lbs. of muriate of potash together with 320 lbs. of nitrate
of soda produced 44.4 bushels, that is, eight times as much as
the unmanured plots, which produced 5.5 bushels on the
average. The results of this experiment show that, in thir

iv CORN (MAIZE).

case, nitrogen played a most important part in the formation
of seed, and that fotash produced the most marked effect on
growth of stalks.

Exp. by Mr. R. S. Hinnson, Oxford.

Potash produced the most marked effect. In every case
where it was omitted, there was a heavy falling off in the
yields, both of corn and stover; both nitrogen and fofash
seem to be needed to produce a fair crop.

Exp. by Mr. C. E. May, Woodstock.

Soil, light loam, with a medium amount of vegetable
matter, well adapted to the growth of corn; subsoil, fine yellow
loam,

Potash used alone had a more marked effect than phosphoric
acid. About equally good results were obtained when each
of these ingredients was combined with nitrogen. In this
experiment nitrogen was clearly the regulating ingredient.

Exp. by Mr. H. P. Loomis, South Manchester.

Soil, medium compact loam, with a reddish clay subsoil.

The best results on this soil appeared to come from the use
of large quantities of the soluble phosphates together with roo
or 150 lbs. of murdate of potash, and about 25 lbs. of nitrogen
from some readily available source.

Exp. by Mr. J. H. Tucker, Lebanon.

Soil, clay loam, having quite a large amount of organic
matter; subsoil, tenacious clay, apt to be moist in wet seasons.

Large quantities of phosphoric acid and small quantities of
potash appeared to have given the best financial results on this
soil.

Exp. by Mr. L. H. Healey, North Woodstock.

Soil, clay loam, with a compact clay subsoil.
The largest yield came from the use of 500 lbs. of slag with
150 lbs. of otash.

Georgia. State Station, Bulletin No. 8 July, 1890.

Soil, chocolate loam, underlayed by red clay.

Nitrogen increased the yield materially, especially in form
of nitrate of soda. The best results were obtained from mixed
minerals, combined with a moderate dose of nitrate of soda.

CORN (MAIZE). v

Kentucky. State Station, Bulletin No. 33.

Soil, blue grass soil, limestone, The increased yield through
the use of 160 lbs. of murzate of potash and 320 lbs. of nitrate of
soda amounts to 39 bushels of corn per acre and 980 lbs. of
fodder. The clear profit was $8.40 per acre. The results
obtained this yearare almost identical with those of the last
two years, that is:

(1) That in those plots where Zotash was one of the ingre-
dients of the fertilizers used there wasa marked increased
yield; both in corn and fodder.

(2) That in plot 15, where a fertilizer was used without
potash, there was scarcely any increase in yield over those
plots containing no fertilizer.

(3) That the greatest increased yield was made by using a
combination of fofash and nitrogen.

(4) That the use of muriate of fofash alone resulted in a
marked increased yield over the plots containing no fertilizer.

(5) That there wasa profit in the use of fertilizers in every
instance where fofash was one of the ingredients, the largest
net profit arising from the use of amixture of nitrate of sodium
and muriate of potash.

(6) That there wasa loss by the use of fertilizers where fotash
was not one of the ingredients.

(7) That so far, dotash has shown its effect the third season
after application.

Massachusetts. Exp. by Mr. W. S. Phillips, Marble

Head.
Soil, fine gravelly loam.

The results of the use of nitrogen and Zofash are quite
similar in kind, though Zofash causes the larger and the most
profitable increase. For this Ishould advise for corn a ferti-

_lizer rich in potash, containing materials to furnish about:

Potash 80 lbs., nitrogen 25 lbs., and phosphoric acid 25 lbs.

Exp. by Mr. Frank Wheeler, Concord.

Soil, a good sandy loam, with almost sandy loam subsoil.

Notwithstanding the high condition of the soil, the potash,
wherever used, produced a very perceptible improvement
from the first. These comparisons make it evident, that on
this soil Jotash was the ingredient most needed, but it produces
its most marked increase when used with nitrogen and phos-
phoric acid, and more when used with either of these than
when simply used alone.

wi CORN (MAIZE).

Exp. by Mr. A. D. Copeland, Bridgewater.

Soil, very poor gravelly loam.

The soil needed nitrogen, phosphoric acid and Zotash; but the
latter to a far greater extent than either ofthe others. They,
if potash was also present, produced a considerable increase,
but if it was absent only a very small one. The two together
are almost powerless to increase the crop. /otash, on the
other hand, even alone causes considerable increase; with ~
either nitrogen or phosphoric acid, the increase due to fofash
is doubled ; with both of them and Zofash the increase due
to the latter is doubled yet again, amounting to no less than
about seventeen bushels of corn per acre.

Exp. by Mr. I. Brydon, Yarmouth,

Soil, a fine sandy loam.

Nitrogen, Zotash and phosphoric acid were allneeded. Each
when used with the two others givesa larger increase than
when used alone or with either one of the others. All are not
equally deficient, however, but in order of necessity rank:
Potash, nitrogen and phosphoric acid. Potash effects the
growth of stem and leaf to a remarkable degree. For this
soil I should advise a fertilizer strong in Zotash and nitrogen.

Exp. by Mr. Pling Moore, Worcester.

Soil, good medium loam.

The striking benefit of dogash as compared with nitrogen
and phosphoric acid is clearly brought out by these compari-
sons. For corn onthis soil I should recommend the use of
fertilizers rich in Jofash and phosphoric acid and with a small
percentage of nitrogen.

Exp. by Mr. L. W. West, Hadley.

Soil, a heavy loam, with clayey subsoil.

A gain of $40.46 per acre has been produced by fertilizers
rich in Jofash. All through the season it was evident that the
growth was far more benefited by Zofash than by any other
element. These figures make evident in a striking manner
the beneficial effects of gofash. Alone, and in every combina-
tion, Jotash produces a remarkable increase; but nitrate of
soda, too, seems to have been required, for the combination of
this with Zofash produces a much larger crop than potash
alone. For this soilI am confident that the most profitable
results would be attained by using light dressings of manure

—sTa. ~ .- oe

CORN (MAIZE) vii

with a little quick-acting nitrogenous fertilizer and a con-
siderable amount of Zotash

Exp. by Mr. D. B. Dewey, New Lenex.

Soil, a fine compact loam, inclined clayey and cold.

In July the plots which had received jotash appeared to be
doing distinctly better than the others. These comparisons
make it quite evident, that thissoil most needed fotash,
which alone, and in nearly every combination, seemsto have
produced a profitable increase. Phosphoric acid does little
or no good, while nitrate of soda, especially when used where
there is fotash, does produce a small increase. For this soil
it is evident, that for corn a fertilizer should be rich in Aoftash.

Exp. at Station Grounds, South Acre, Amherst.

Soil, a fine yellow loam, with gravel or sand at the depth of
‘wo or three feet.

These comparisons make it evident that this soil still needs
potash in greater amount than either of the other elements of
plant food. The gain from its use alone on plot 4 amounts to
no less than $14.66. Other plots gave larger crops, but no other
equalled this one in point of profit on the fertilizer used. The
result last year was similar; and it istrue for both years that
even if labor be taken into account, the plot where fofask
alone was used gave the largest net profit. In view of the
results of two years’ work upon this soil, I cannot doubt that
with barn yard or stable manure it would pay to use muvrdate of
potash for corn upon this land. If fertilizer only is to be used,
Iwould recommend materials which would supply per acre
about 80 lbs. of actual potash, 30 1bs. of phosphoric acid and 20
lbs. of nitrogen in availabie form,

Exp. on Station Grounds, North Acre, Amherst.

Soil, similar to the South Acre.

The teaching of the results brought out by these compari-
sons is plain. This soil most needs Zotash for the profitable
production of corn, and this should be supplied to the full ex-
tent used in our experiments.

For corn on this soilthe profit may doubtless be enhanced
by using manure in small account, inconnection with fofash,
rather than by large applications of manure alone. This plan
is to be followed this year upon the general crop of the college
farm.

viii CORN (MAIZE).

Exp. by Mr.G. L. Cooley, North Half-Aére, Surderland.

Soil, alluvial formation.
The indication is strong that the fertilizer for corn must be
rich in dofash to give profitable returns on this land.

Conclusions.

1, Our results show that soils differ widely in their re-
quirements.

2. Potash, however, proves mutch more beneficial or proves
much more largely beneficial than either nitrogen or phos-
phoric acid.

3. Potash asarule most largely increases the yield of both
grain and stover, but its effect upon stover eg is
greater than upon grain production.

4. Barn yard manures are, as a rule, relatively deficient in
potash, probably because of the loss of a large proportion of
the urine, which contains about four-fifths of the total dotash
of the excretions.

5. The relative deficiency of many of our soils may, I think
be largely accounted for from the following facts:

(a) Manure asarule lacks this ingredient, as just pointed
out.

(b) Farmers, who have used commercial fertilizers have, as
a rule, bought phosphates or fertilizers rich in phosphoric
acid, and containing little or no potash.

6. The relative deficiency of jofash in so many soils, shown
now by the results of the work of two seasons, I believe jus-
tifies the following general advice.

(a) In breaking up sod land for corn, particularly that which
isin fair condition, but which has been under ordinary farm
management, if fertilizers only are to be used, apply those
which are rich in otash. Use materials which will supply 80
to 100 lbs. of actual potash, from 25 to 30 lbs. of phosphoric acid
and rs to 20 lbs. of nitrogen per acre.

(b) If a special corn fertilizer is to be used, apply only
a moderate quantity, say 400 to 500 lbs. per acre, and use with
it about 125 lbs. of muriate of potash. It is believed this com-
bination will produce as good a crop as 800 to 1,000 Ibs. of corn
fertilizers, and it will cost considerably less.

(c) With ordinary barn yard or stable manure for corn, use
potash. I would recommend using about four cords manure
and 100 lbs. of murizate of potash per acre.

CORN (MAIZE). ix

(d) For fodder or ensilage corn, use either in fertilizers or
with manure one-fourth more fotash than above recom-
mended.

Missouri. State Station, Bulletin No. 14, 1891.

So far it appears from the trials that Zotash is the element
most desired by the corn in our land.

New Hampshire. State Station, Bulletin No. 12, 1891.

The average chemical composition of fertilizers for New
Hampshire should be phosphoric acid 9-11%, potash 9-15%,
nitrogen 2-4%; whereas fertilizers offered us in the market
average, phosphoric acid 11%, potash 2.5%, nitrogen 2.5%.

Formula recommended for corn:

Dissolved bone black...... ........... 325 lbs.
Wn rtate Of DOCH nite hes vate dee S300, =
Sulphate of ammonia............-.-.... way

500 lbs, per acre.

Rhode Island. Station Experiment, Kingston.
Soil, sandy loam.
Mixed minerals as well as muriate of potash alone produced
a large profit. The soil appears to be deficient in otash,
phosphoric acid and nitrogen; Zotash appeared to be espec-
ially lacking.

Exp. by Mr. Courtland P. Chapman, Westerly.

Soil, rich loam and slightly sandy.

Potash produced the best results, and nitrogen the poorest ;
it appears that the soil lacks available Zotash more than phos-
phoric acid, though both are somewhat deficient, and that in
general the application of any considerabie quantity of nitro-
gen was not profitable.

Exp. by Mr. J. B. Vaughan, Nooseneck.

Soil, poor sandy loam.

Complete fertilizer produced the best results, nitrogen was
the predominating element needed. Nitrogen, phosphoric
acid, and ofash were all lacking. Potash and phosphoric
acid applied alone proved unprofitable, which was not the
case when combined with nitrogen in the most available form.

a | ; COTTON.
Exp. by Mr. H. Hartwell Jencks, Lime Rock.

Soil, dark loam.

Potash was most needed (muriate of potash gave the largest
profit), but also phosphoric acid and nitrogen. Potash appears
to have been more deficient than phosphoric acid.

Exp. by Mr. A. H. Tefft, Jamestown.

Soil, black loam.
In general the application of chemicals in this experiment
increased both the total crop and net profits.

Exp. by Messrs. Capwell and Tillinghast, Summit.

Soil, light loam.

The soil was most deficient in phosphoric acid. /otash and
nitrogen seemed to be about equally deficient, and a combina-
tion of the two produced large additional yields only when
combined with phosphoric acid.

Exp. by Mr. A. A. Sherman, Davisville.

Soil, medium loam.

There was a deficiency of all three of the essential ele-
ments, Zotash being apparently most deficient. The profits
from the use of mixed minerals were good in every case.

Exp. by Mr. Elmer K. Watson, Nayatt Point.

Soil, black loam.

Potash, more especially, and also phosphoric acid were
chiefly lacking.

General results of the experiments:

The Experiments

show that there existed a wide variation in the fertility of the
soils, and that cases of one-sided exhaustion were not of un-
common occurrence. In four cases, at least, fotash ap-
peared most deficient, and it is interesting to observe that
the two most marked cases of a deficiency in phosphoric acid
were upon old pastures.

COTTON.

Alabama. Station at Auburn.

The best results were obtained with a combination of
Rainit and phosphate; 195 1bs. of dissolved bone black and
150 lbs. of 2aznzt, per acre, yielded, at a cost of $3.90, a clear

i

in

COTTON. xi

profit of $13.95, which is equal to 135%, and is the highest yield
obtained from the use of artificial fertilizers. It is noted that
kainzt prevented or retarded the appearance of blight. ,
Kainit causes the cotton plant to retain the leaves after they
had blighted where none is used.

Exp. by Mr. E. J. Beasley, Covington Co., Red Level
P. O.

Red sandy soil; subsoil, clay.

The best effects were obtained from a combination of phos-
phoric acid, Zotfash and nitrogen. /ofash and nitrogen
materially increased the productive power of the phosphoric
acid. The three elements combined upon plot 9 produced 330
Ibs. of seed cotton per acre more than phosphoric acid and
nitrogen without jofash. The three combined produced 770
Ibs. more than the production of the unaided soil, as indicated
by the average yield of the unfertilized plots.

Exp. by Mr. M. A. Bishop, Madison, Madison Co.

Deep red soil, with stiff, red subsoil.
Phosphoric acid produced best effect if used in combination
with Zofash and nitrogen.

Exp. by Mr. R. H. Cross, Letohatchie, Lowndes Co.

Sandy loam, with yellow clay subsoil.

This soil plainly needed all three of the elements, but the
effect of phosphoric acid is less marked than usual, upon
sandy soil, while that of Zofash is more conspicuous than
usual,

Exp. by Mr. J. A. Davison, Yantley Creek, Choctaw Co.

Sandy soil with some lime, clay subsoil.

The results of this experiment point to the need of phos-
phoric acid, the effect of which is, however, improved by the
addition of nitrogen and Zofash.

Arkansas. Exp. at Pine Bluff.

In comparing two fertilizer mixtures (one of them containing
potash (kainit), that which contained fofash produced. the
better results.

General fertilizers upon cotton: Xazzzt, 300 ibs. to the acre,
produced the highest yield of any single or combined ferti-
lizer.

xii COTTON.

Georgia. Exp. Station, Bulletin No. 10.

Clay soil, shading into sandy land.

The results indicate that the soil is deficient in both phos-
phoric acid and Zoftash, especially in the former on sandy
portion, and in the latter on the clayey portion. Neither
phosphoric acid alone nor Zofash alone gaveas good results as
when combined with each other. Nitrogen produced little orno
effect, but very decided effects when mixed with phosphoric
acid and Zofash.

Louisiana. Station at Calhoun.

The effects of Zotash is undecided for the reason that the
plots not treated with Jotash were badly attacked by blight.
Might not the presence of fotash have acted as germicide to
prevent this disease?

Mississippi. Exp. Station, Annual Report, 1890.

Furman’s formula, and a mixture of 2s0 lbs. of cotton seed
meal, 50lbs. of £azuz¢ and 2001bs. of acid phosphate produced
the highest yield, and a profit of about $11 per acre. In 1889 the
greatest increase came from the plots which received 200 lbs.
of £ainzt per acre, and this increase was secured at the
smallest expense per hundred pounds, 53 cents.

Exp. at the Holly Springs Station.

Upland clay soil.

Kainit alone produced a profit of $10.50. 100 lbs. of cotton
seed meal and 100 lbs. of Lazuz¢t produced a net profit of $21.60,
The yields from these plots indicate very clearly the necessity
for the use of Zofash fertilizers. Plot 4, which received 200lbs.
of kainzt, gave much the largest as well as most profitable
yield of any plot fertilized with a single ingredient, and a
larger yield than did plot 6, where acid phosphate was sub-
stituted for one half the amount of #azzzt applied to plot 4.

Thin clay, upland soil (field No. 2):

160 lbs. of cotton seed meal and 40 lbs. of Razuzt gave the
highest profit amounting to $15.28 per acre.

Low land, quite sandy soil (field No. 3):

Experiment was not reliable, but azuzt gave the best
results of the single elements.

It has been the uniform experience during three seasons
that the purchase of concentrated nitrogenous fertilizers is not
profitable; that acid phosphate alone is only occasionally

OATS. xiil

profitable ; that’ ofash fertilizers, either in form of saznit
or sulphate of potash, have always given a fair profit. We have
also found, that a fertilizer containing a large percentage of
potash witha smaller amount of phosphoric acid has invari-
ably given a greater net profit than has any single commercial
salt. While good results have always been obtained by the
‘use of a mixture of Zofash and phosphoric acid salts, results
thave been still better when the soil has received a fair supply
of vegetable matter in addition,

Prof. Connell’s Exp. at the Station.

Sandy clay soil; 400 lbs. of azuzt, used alone, produced
tthe highest profit of $17.66 per acre.

Holly Springs Branch Station.

Light sandy soil. The indications of the entire soil are that
such soil needs both potash and phosphoric acid as well as
a liberal supply of vegetable matter.

OATS.

Connecticut. Exp. by G. A. Ross, Jewett City.

A light sandy loam, with asandysubsoil. There was quite
an increase from the use of mixed minerals, and a still greater
aincrease wherever nitrogen was applied.

Indiana. Exp. Station, Bulletin No. 33, Oct., 1890.

Fertilizers were applied 17 days after sowing; the largest
~yield was from complete fertilizers, and produced an increase
of 11.50 bushels per acre; a total yield of 44 bushels. Fertili-
zation generally increases the proportion of grain of the oat
crop. The grain lodged more on those lots which received
commercial fertilizers.

Massachusetts. State Station, Annual Report for 1890.

The results obtained left no doubt about the fact that our
farmland had been in an exceptional degree impoverished in
potash in consequence of a too close rotation of grass and
corn, In the majority of cases where muriate of potash has
furnished the Zofash, the manuring of the crop was somewhat
dater than when sud:hateof potash was used. The plots con-
taining Zofash magnesia sulphate, as the potash source, yielded
the largest amount of grain.

xiv PEAS AND POTATOES.

Rhode fsland. State Station, Annual Report, 1890.

Mixed chemicals were compared with commercial fertilizers
(Horsefoot’s Guano), the fertilizer as well as the guano pro-—
duced a large increase of grain and straw, but mixed chem-
cals were superior to the commercial brand.

PEAS.

Maine. Exp. Station, Annual Report, 1890.

Soil, clay loam.
The highest yield was obtained from bone black an@
muriate of potash, and at the least expense.

POTATOES.

Connecticut. Exp. by Mr. M. H. Dean, in the Housa-
tonic Walley.

Soil, light loam, somewhat sandy, with a light loam subsoil.
Nitrogen produced very little effect, which is attributed to
an insufficient supply of potashin the fertilizer. More potash
may have been needed to meet the deficiencies of the soil-
The mixed minerals gave a large increase, raising the amount
from 137 bushels per acre on the tunmanured land to 218
bushels per acre upon that fertilized with minerals.

Georgia State Station, Bulletin No. 8, July, 1890.

The results seem to warrant the conclusion that a fertilizer
containing all the food elements in the same proportion and
in available form, as a good stable manure, gives the largest.
increase, and that incomplete fertilizers, while they show a
gain over the unfertilized plots, are not remunerative. A_
quick growing crop like the potato, which has only a short
time in which to mature, cannot be grown successfully un-
less a bountiful supply of all the elements of plant food is.
provided ; that is, the greatest yield is obtained where the
soil contains an excess of all the elements of plant food in
available form over and above the requirement of the plant-

Maine. Exp. by Mr. O. B. Keene, of Easton.

Potash and ammonia produced a large increase of potatoes.
in this experiment, which is interesting in showing the re-
markable effect of commercial fertilizers on some soils. The
average of the plots receiving no fertilizers was 132 bushels

POTATOES. xv

peracre. The average of the plots receiving nitrate of soda
and muriate of potash was 262 bushels per acre. Here the
crop was doubled by adding 150 lbs. of nitrate of soda and 10>
lbs. of murzate of potash. The cost of the chemicals in this.
case was $5.50. The extra cost of 130 bushels of potatoes was.
about 4.2 cents per bushel. The use of acid South Carolina rock
costing $5.50 caused an additional gain to that made by the
nitrate of soda and muriate of potash, of 65 bushels, at a cost of
8 cents per bushel.

Massachusetts. State Station, Annual Report, 1890.

The records were destroyed by fire ; following statement
was made from memory: Itappears that the special potato-
fertilizer in the market furnish too small a portion of Jotash-
It will pay to use them in moderate quantities, if at all, in con-
nection with sulphate of potash for the heavier, and murzate of
potash for the lighter soils.

New Hampshire. State Station, Bulletin No. 12.
- March, 1891.

The records are those of previous experiments and indicate
that Zotash isthe most needed in the soils, that were tested,
and that commercial mixtures of fertilizers contain a too small
percentage of otash. In thisexperiment one dollar invested
in the best combination of fertilizer gave an increase worth
seven dollars ; one dollar invested in manure gave only $3.€
increase, and $1.00 invested in commercial brands of fertilizers.
an increase of $4.20. Every new test adds to the probability of
the correctness of my position, relative to the need of vastly
more fofash than our fertilizer manufacturers give us. For-
mula recommended for potatoes: Dissolved bone black 340
lbs. and murzate of potash 160 |bs. per acre.

New Jersey. State eae Bulletin’ No. 80. March,

Experiments were made in three locations, all in Middle
Essex County. Good results were obtained with mineral
manures alone, while the best profits resulted from a mixture
of chemical manure with barnyard manure, yielding a profit
of $68.91 in one case ; kazuz¢t was less effective than murzate or
sulphate, and sulphate did not produce,a larger yield than
muriate of potash. Nitrate of soda did not prove a valuable
fertilizer for potatoes. Sulphate of potash produced the best
Tesults as to quality.

xvi RYE AND SORGHUM.

New York. Geneva Station, Annual Report, 1890,

Special experiments with Jotash and nitrogen.

These results indicate: x. That for potatoes muriate of
potashis a good safe fertilizer, even on some clay soils, where
potash may be said to be present in considerable quantity.
2. That while potassium sulphate helps the crop, it is far less
effective than the chloride, and not desirable when chloride
can te obtained. 3. That the application of nitrogen in
sodium nitrate and ammonium sulphate has been beneficial on
some plots, but always at too great cost for profit.

Rhode Island. State Station, Annual Report, 13890.

Phosphoric acid was most needed ; murzate of potash in
combination produced nearly twice as much as sulphate of
potash incombination. The great difference in yield in favor
of the murzate is worthy of note, but additional work is neces-
sary to substantiate results.

RAYE:

Rhode Island. Third Annual Report, 1890.

Potash did not increase the amount of straw, but produced
-a heavier yield in grain. Fotash increased the gain of grain
-two or three fold.

SORGHUM.

Arkansas. Third Annual Report, 1890.

Effect upon contents of sugar. Aazzzt alone and in com-
‘bination produced an increase of sugar from % to ¥% 4.

The indications.are strongly in favor of the conclusions:
That application of azuz¢t had a beneficial influence upon the
amount of sugar in the canes and juice. |

Without exception murzate of potash has noticeably in-
-creased the total yiell per acre . . . Theresults secured
from similar experiments on sorghum at Rio Grande, Cape
May Co., during 1885, 1886 and 1887, corroborate the above
statements in nearly every particular, and admit of the con-
clusion that Zotash is the element which exerts the most
marked effect upon the yield of sorghum and upon the pro-
duction of sugar.

“SWEET POTATOES. xvii

SWEET POTATOES.

Arkansas. Exp. at the Newport Branch Station.

Kainz¢t used alone produced the highest profit, amounting

to $25.50 per acre.
Delaware. Exp. by Mr. Manlove Hayer at Dover.

Potash used alone yielded anincrease of 79 bushels per acre.
“The adjoining plot shows that nearly $40 per acre was gained
‘by the use of $4 worth of Zotash.

Exp. by Mr. John Dager at Camden.

Taking all things into consideration, the murzate of potash
‘gave potatoes most uniform in size and best all around
forthe market, and the probabilities are that Mr. Dager would
succeed best by selecting the murzafe; financially $4 worth of

. this salt yielded $24 worth of product.

‘Test with Scarlet Clover as Green Manure and Fertilizer

Of any single element Aofash yielded the largest returns.
Of the combinations, scarlet clover, Jofash and phosphoric
acid, costing $8 per acre, returned $52 worth of potatoes.

Exp. by Mr. Chas. Wright near Seaford, Sussex Co.

That story is that unfertilized ground can produce 41 bushels
of sweet potatoes per acre, but that, with an excess of fotash,
the same ground could produce 105 bushels, a gain of 64
‘bushels, worth $32, for an expenditure of $4. Both phosphoric
acid and nitrogen increased yields, but relatively to a very
trifling extent; the presence or absence of Zotash determined
the crop.

Conclusion.

On the practical outcome of the series, the results are posi-
tive enough. Dropping all theories they stand as follows:
Muriate of potash when used alone at Dover returned $10, at
Camden it returned $6, and at Seaford it returned $8 for
€very dollar invested in its purchase.

Georgia, Bulletin No. 10, December, 1890.

Red clay soil, with clay subsoil.

The best results were obtained with a mixture of 320 lbs.
of superphosphate, 360 lbs. cotton seed meal and 640 Ibs. of
&ainit, or in place of kain7t, 160lbs. of muriate of potash. The

xviii TOMATOES.

value of increase above the cost of the fertilizer varied accord-
ing to the variety of potato from $37.43 to $102.83 per acre.
The cost of fertilizer was $10.27 or $9.40 respectively.

Conclusion,

The yield of sweet potatoes is governed by the amount of
potash in the fertilizer. A fertilizer, as in the experiment,
analyzing 8% phosphoric acid, 34 ammonia and 10% of Joftash,,
is the most effective for sweet potatoes.

New Jersey. Exp. by Mr. G. E. Farry, Farmingdale,
Monmouth County.
Very light, sandy soil.
Complete fertilizer produced a profit of $30.05 per acre 3,
nitrate of soda was not beneficial if used alone.

TOMATOES.

Arkansas. State Station, Third Annual Report, 1890.

Nitrate of soda produced the best effect, while azzzt, used
alone, yielded a profit of $20.50 per acre; after nitrogen, in
sodium nitrate, Jotaskh seemsto be the most efficient in in-
creasing the yield.

Delaware. Exp. by Mr. John Heyd, Near Felton, Kent
County.

Neither alone nor in combination with phosphoric acid and
potash did the nitrate of soda prove that it caused an increase
sufficient to pay for its purchase and use. If a profit results
from any application, it must be credited to the mix-
ture of phosphoric acid and fofash. At $6 per ton of
tomatoes, the amount of said increase would be $15 ; the cost
ofthe application would approximate one-half of said sum..

Georgia. State Station, Bulletin No. 10, i890.

The results indicate that mixed minerals with larger rations.
of nitrogen are productive of the largest yield and greatest
earliness. The effect of nitrogen depends upon the presence-
of the mineral elements, phosphate and Zofash.

Maryland. StateStation, Bulletin No. 10, 13890.

Potash appeared to increase the crop more than either of
the other elements of plant food, and nitrogen stood next in

WHEAT, AND POTASH AS INSECTICIDE. pci:

this respect. Nitrate of soda and murzate of potash can be
recommended as special fertilizer for the tomato.

Summary by the Director.

Potash alone, asmuriate, gave good results, better than some
mixtures. Phosphoric acid had little effect on the quantity of
the crop. Nitrate and murzate of potash can be recommended
as special fertilizers for the tomato. /ofashfertilizersseemed
to decrease sugar and increase acid in the tomatoes. All
three fertilizing elements increased these same elements in
the fruit. The vines and roots of the tomatoes are very rich

in Zotash.
WHEAT.

Kentucky. Exp. by Mr. Anderson, Jeffries, Glendale,
Hardin Co.
This indicates that fertilizer rich in Zotash would be best on
this land.

Exp. by Mr. J. W. Stringer, Franklin, Simpson Co.

The addition of fofash to bone meal produced an increase
of 4 bushels per acre.

Exp. by Mr. J. W. Netherton, Prospect, Jefferson Co.

It seems that acid phosphate, cotton seed meal and mzzzare
of potash protect the plant to some extent from winter freezes.

POTASH AS INSECTICIDE.

New Jersey. Bulletin No. 66, March, 1890.

According to the experience of many farmers, dofash salts
are very effective as insecticides, destroying grub and cut
worms, scales on peach trees, cabbage maggots, plant lice
and corn-root louse. By experiment it was shown that fotash
salts, preferably £aznzt, was very effective in killing insects,
while not injurious to the plants.

Kainit Against the Rose Chafer in Vineyards.
Bulletin No. 82, July, 1891.

Either late in the fall or early in spring land should be
-plowed and top-dressed with aznzz.

Potash has been heretofore known only as a fertilizer of
very high grade. Experiments made by me during the past

Sie POTASH AS INSECTICIDE.

year prove that it has a high value as an insecticide as well.
It is effective against plant lice of all kinds,against many naked
larve and against the wire worms on potatoes. It also kills
cabbage maggots.

Though I have tested it principally on overground insccts,
yet its greatest field of usefulness is against those pests that
live in the ground or about the roots of plants. In localities
in which corn is infected by cut worms, etc., a heavy dressing
of fofash before planting will destroy almost all insects
in the ground at that time. For the corn-root louse
I have no doubt this will prove a perfect remedy. Where
potato ground is infested with the wire worm, a heavy dress-
ing with Zazmz¢ will bring relief. Peach orchards that are
infested with the black peach aphis on the roots, can be
renovated by the use of this same substance. On bringing the
matter to the attention of farmers, many have been able to
recollect that with the use of jotash certain insect troubles
ceased ; but they had not heretofore credited the Jotash with
this result. This item is especially recommended to peach
growers in South Jersey. The azuzt is preferable to the
murzate as an insecticide.

Professor Wagner's experiments, showing that
leguminous plants draw their supply of nitrogen
Srom the atr.

POTASH, PHOSPHORIC ACID
AND NITROGEN.

POTASH AND
PHOSPHORIC ACID.

NO FERTILIZER.

Potash and phosphoric acid without any nitrogen
produced a large crop of peas, while the addition
of nitrogen to the mineral fertilizers showed very
little effect,

‘

Professor Wa

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Experiments made at the Rhode Island Expert
ment Station oi beets, showing the effects of lime
on sour sozls.

SULPHATE OF AMMONIA,
WITH LIME.

SULPHATE OF AMMONIA,
WITHOUT LIME.

With lime, a luxuriant crop was produced;
wethout lime, zt was a total faclure.

Experiments made -at the West Virginia Ex-
periment Station, showing the effect of potash upon
potatoes.

WITH POTASH AND
PHOSPHORIC ACID.

WITHOUT FERTILIZER.

The unfertilized land produced at the rate of
S6 bushels per acre. Where katntt and acid phos-
phate were applied, the yield was 248 bushels of
potatoes per acre.

Experiments made at the Alabama Experiment
Station, showing that potash will cure red rust in
cotton and largely increase the yteld,

NO FERTILIZER. POTASH AND NITROGEN.

The use of potash and nitrogen upon cotton pro-
duced an increase of 225 per cent. (429 lbs. of cotton
per acre, against 132 lbs. where no potash was used.)

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POTASH (KAINIT) AND NITROGEN.
The two vines yielded three and one-

half pounds of grapes.

NO FERTILIZER.
The two vines yielded little more

than one-half pound of grapes.

Experiments by Mr. E. Lierke, of Germany, upon grape vines on poor
sandy soil.— The Experiments illustrate the predominant effect of potash
and nitrogen upon grapes; they also show that phosphoric acid must be
used in addition, in order to obtain the best yields and guavity.

zon.

ts made on Corn at the Massachusetts Experiment Stat

‘xperimen

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Chem

ical Fertilizer produced as large if not a larger yield than

Stable Manure.

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