The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-08-15
MANURE IN SUMMER.
Its Use in Garden CuIture-How and When
1t Should BE Applied.

fertilizers that are IN a cOndlton 10 oe
Immediately available for plant food,
the manuring of plants during the sum-
mer season has become much more
prevalent than when only barn manure
was to be had.
Wenow have many kinds of fertilizers
that can be applied after the plants are
well up, and still be a great benefit to
the crop; but when coarse manure is
applied it takes too long for it to change
into plant food to be in season to do
any good to the growing crop, unless it
be applied before the crop is planted;
but sometimes a liberal dressing of
coarse manure applied after the first
hoeing will be benefit by protecting
the plants from dry weather. The ma
nure acts as a mulch, keeping the soil
moist, thus enabling the plants to util-
ize what fertilizers are already in the
soil
Whenever a soil is deficient in nitro
gen and it is deemed necessary to APP
ply it in a concentrated form. there is
but little doubt it is best to apply it
during the growing season, because if
applied at any other season a cOnsidera-
bic portion will be lost by evaporation.
Among the crops the most benefited
by summer manuring may be mentioned
running vines, like squashes and GU
cumbers. Any of the fertilizers rich in
nitrogen may be applied even at the
second time of hoeing, and be of great
ha,nff to tb.s,
potatoes are often greatly benefited by
the application of small quantity of
wood ashes the first time hocing; but in
the application of strong wood ashes
care must be taken not to apply them
soon after a rain, or when the plants are
wet with dew, but apply only when the
leaves are dry, or the ashes will stick to
the leaves of the plants and the water
will cause the potash on the plants to
burn the leaves; in fact, care must be
taken in the'application of any concen-
trated fertilizers never to apply them
when tn" plants are wet, for us rule
such fer, lizers are very fine. and al
though it may not be intended to have
any of it touch the plants, it will bevery
likely to blow on them enough to injure
the foliage
1t is the practice of some when they
apply fertilizers in the growing season
to place it close around the stalks of the
plants, but this is not as well as it is to
spread it evenly over the ground, as the
roots Of most plants extend from one
hill to the roots of the next, by the sec
ond or third time hoeng: there is no
danger but they will find whatever has
been applied in the form of fertilizer
quite as well, or even better, than if
placed directly around the hill. In APP
plying fertilizers in the summer it is
better to apply them Just before cult
waiting the crop; it will then be more
thoroughly mixed with the soil
When it is thought necessary to apply
barn manure in the summer it should
be well prepared before it is used, or
but little advantage will be derived from
it much before autumn; but if well
cOmpOstcd so as to decOmpose it and
make it fine. much of it will be availa-
bic for plant food in very short time
after applied. If the farmer could
know Just when rain was coming. and
apply his fertilizers a few hours before,
1t would be much better than if not APP
piled until after tbe rain was ova,. i,
fact the ADVANTAGE 70 ba derived rom -,
fertilizers dnnG1ds aIroost 6ot;,.oi ii.
on fine rain falI. Jprino a d,, soasn1o
but a very small nortio7 Of fartiIilors
become available for niant food no
have fertilizers do the most GOOD there
should be frequent showers with plenty
of sunshine. for all rain and no sun
shine is quite as fatal to the preparation
of plant food as dry weather,
The application of fertilizers drrino
the growing season in common field
culture is. as rule: too extensive 70 he
generally adopted. but in Garden cuI.
tire when it often becomes important
to force a crop. and TO do so if fire.
mentlv paws to apply some o1ick actino
fertilizer after the crop is parfiaII4
crown; but he who is to practice This
should be well posted in REGARD TO the
condition of his soil and the wants of
his crops. and he should be able TO select
such fertilizer as has tbe narticuIor
element that is most needed for the
rapid growth and maturity of his nlants
and this element to be of Immediate use
must be soluble in water. For example.
if the crop be dandelions or lettuce
nitrogen should be applied in preferences
to phosphoric acid. and the NITROGEN