The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1904-07-07


and expensive failure is. in the very
nature Of things, bound TO be the re.
suit.
There are three. at least, "oSscn-
falls" the absence of either Of which
will pretty effcctually initiate against
any possible profit from ,her market
cardpping or truck gardening these
are;
! A sure and remunorativc market
for The products when raised,
.. A thorough knowledge OF his soil
and is adaptability TO the vegetables
10 be grown thereon, and an equally
animate knowledge Of the plants he
intends TO cultivate, together with
tbeir cultural and plant food require
ments, and
3. Rich land.
II ia a waste Of time 10 attempt the
utterly impossible feat of raising pro-
6table crops of tender succulent vegc-
ables on any but the very richest
Of land.
No matter how fertile the land may
seem 10 he, good crops can only be
grown there by high manurmg. While
IN ordinary grain or cotton, or tobacco
farming. one can. by iudicious 70.
tarion and by the free use Of legumm-
Gus crops. get along without the pur-
chase Of heterogeneous fertilizers, the
market gardener must he lavish with
his fertilizers. both heterogeneous ana
potassic. Nitrogen forces early
growth and gives large succulent
leaves and stems. Potash gives sol
jdity and crlspness and increases the
sugar and starchy parts Of the seeds,
phosphoric acid tends more especially
b develop the seeds Of plants, hence
the chief ingredient in good fertil-
jzer for vegetables of which the leaves
or stems are the edible portion Is
nitrogen. For root vegetables. phos-
phoric acid and potash are fully as
important as nitrogen. For vegetables
Of which the seed is the edible por-
ton, like the garden pea. for instance,
phosphoric acid the leading element.
For vegetables like the tomato. po-
tato. egg plants, celery. melons, etc,
potash is the most important,
Nitrate of soda is the best form Of
nitrogen and the sulphatc is the best
available form Of potash, for garden
vegetables Of all kinds, cotton seed
meal. as source Of nitrogen. and
the muriatc as Il source of potash
being next; kanit is altogether out Of
place ~ the garden or truck farm
Potash salts are just the thing for
truck farming. The cheaper muriate
Of potash gives equally rs good re-
suits ON cahbages and beets as the
more expensive Sulphate, but The lat
Ter appears 10 be superior TO the muir
late in increasing yield of tomatoes
spinach lettuce and onions. For vegc-
tables. the controlling elements are
potash and nitrogen; and very few of
The brands of mixed fertilizers have
as high percentage Of potash ms most
truck crops require. II is known on all
sides thar potatoes are dear lovers Of
potash. but does not appear to be
so generally known that the cabbage
crop is also a potash eater Tumlps
comes next and cauliowers third in
Their demand for potash, Hence If Il
heavy yield of either is desired. they
must be planted on soil that already
has plenty Of potash in il. or plenty Of
II must be applied. No soil Is naturally
so strong that many good crops Of
vegetables can he raised in succession
thereon except potash be added Just
as often and just as literally as nitro
gen, We have this mach 10 say about
potash for the reason that, to our GER
tain knowledge, many market gar
deners limit themselves exclusively TO
manure obtained from city stables,
and stable manure, let Z he ever so
good, is not a properly balanced fer
tlll2er for vegetables and cannot bring
hest results, A good general fertll-
izer for all garden vegetables would
he' 100 TO 225 pounds acid phosphate
2SO 10 375 pounds sulphate Of potash,
100 to 10 ponds nitrate of soda
Mix phosphate and potash and apply
previous TO planting apply nitrate be-
side or around the plants after crop is
up.
If ground Is well supplied with hu-
mus above amounts may be doubled
Or trehled with manifest advantage.
In all eases we most decidedly prefer
10 apply broadcast: and though, by
thorough preparation, Thoroughly in
corporate The fertilizer with the soil
Aphs done. when drouth sets IN, wher-
Hyer the application was heaviest,
there the crop viii be the greenest, LET