The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-26
FertiIizing the Garden.

When the garden has been cleared from
crops one subject to which the gardener
must give his attention is the supply of
plant food with which to grow the next
years produce, says Weeks Magazine. 1t
is a subject which he should study very
closely, for on the right use of fertlliz-
ers will depend his success, to a large
extent. one should know the needs of
the soil, so that fertilizers may be used
in the most economical way. If it is de-
ficieRt in humus, it will be necessary to
apply plant food in the form of stable
manure, or plow under cover crops. If
the soil has been heavily MANFRED for
several years, and is full of humus, it
may be more economical to grow some
crops with commercial fertilizers; or if
the soil has become manure sick" or
acid, it may need an application of lime
On my own farm my plan is to apply
stable manure to the land where l intend
10 raise celery, cabbages and other veg
etables of which the stem or leaf is the
edible part. Part of this manure is first
applied as mulch on the strawberries,
and after getting this use of the manure
there is time after picking the strawber-
ries, in June, 10 raise a crop of celery
or cabbages. There seems 10 be a diff
ference in manures and fertilizers in re-
gard to their availability for different
plants.
Most of the garden vegetables seem to
assimilate food better in the form of sta
Bile manure, and the vegetable matter in
IL furnishes the humus to the, soil that
enables it to retain moisture. Sometimes
in growing strawberries, where stable
manure may seed the ground to weeds it
is more economical to use commercial
fertilizers. 1 think l shall use no more
stable manure on the strawberry beds,
except for a mulch on those beds which
l intend TO pillow up the next year. The
field that is to be set to Strawberries next
year, I shall give a heavy dressing Of
wood ashes, and then scatter some com
mercial fertilizer along the rows after
setting the plants. | plant Strawberries
and some other fruits. on land that was
heavily MANFRED for vegetables the pre-
vious year and as the soil is we'll filled
with humus, it will need only the fer
tilizers mentioned. 1t is good economy to
rotate manures and crops in this way,
especially if stable manure is not easily
obtained.
l have land that is failing to produce
good crops. although il has been heavily
MANFRED for several years. This land
has become acid, and will be dressed with
lime When soils become acid, or ina
nure sick" Lime should be used to correct
this condition Usually it is the most
economical to use lime in the form of
caustic lime or quicklime. This can be
drawn TO the field. and placed in piles
of about fifty pounds each, covered with
earth, and allowed to slack, when it can
be spread with "a shovel From one 10
two tons per acre once in three or four
years is sufficient, unless the soil has
become infested with the germs that
cause the club root in cabbages and caul-
flowers. If one should wish to grow
plants of the cabbage family frequently
on the same ground, heavier and more
frequent applications would be needed
Wood ashes contain from 80 TO 40 per cent
of lime, and these If used in sufficient
quantities. will take the place of quick
lime. c+ W. II. Jenkins