Putnam patriot., 1911-04-28

weeds, will depend on your own at tention and industry. This manure may bring you some weed seeds with il, but probably the ground contains so many already that it will not make much difference. The weeds are only a sign of troublei they come tC remind you that you have been neglecting your job of cultivating. This stable manure-five to eight two-horse loads will not be too much should be spread evenly over the surface of your ground before ploughing and you should see that your ploughman turns il all under, leaving no punches to clog the harrow, rake, or seed-drill later on.
 If good manure is not to be had in your vicinity, you will have to fall back on some of the chemical fertiliz- CTS. All chemical fertilizers should be applied broadcast after ploughing. [ SC, for 50x100 foot garden, 200 to 300 lbs, according to quality. Later applications may also be made, as de- seribed subsequently,. Unleached wood ashes is another excellent fertiliz CT, both for it's rlant food and for it's action upon the soil, and it can be ob- tsined readily in some localities. Ap- ply fifteen to twenty bushels broadcast on the above space before narrowing.
 Nitrate of soda, which forms proba- ply the most important element of mixed fertilizers and plant foods, can with much greater economy be used pure for many purposes. But the be- ginner will have to be exceptionally careful in applying it. One of its most valuable features is it's remarkably quick action. To force plants to early maturity, and to help along backward crops, 1t has no equal. For applica- ton it may be mixed with equal parts of ashes, light soil, or other suitable substance to give it bulk. But per sonally l have always preferred to use it pure, taking care to pulverize all humps. If the following two rules are observed, il may be used without any danger of "burning' the plants, First, see that none of II ever lodges upon the foliage, and never apply when there is moisture upon the plants. Second, apply iu many small doses-lo b 20 tbs. at a time for such piece aS we have been considering IL should be put on So spariug as To be barely yisi. bic; outits presence will soon be de- noted by the moist spots, looking ike big rain drops, which each particle of it makes in the dry soil
 II you can have ploughed under for your garden good coating of rotted barnyard manure, followed by a dress ing of wood ashes or fertilizer harrow ed in, and can apply 90 to 100 lbs. of nitrate of soda during the summer, your fertilizer question will be settled and you can pick out place on your wall right now for some of the blue ribbons to be awarded next fall at your local fair.
 In his hurry to get the first plants out and seeds sown, the beginner is likely to hurry over the preparation of the ground. Instead of hastening things few hours, he is delaying them days. In order to have the best crops, 1t is necessary that the plants make an unchecked growth from the very beginning, and nothing is more important In giving them the right start than properly prepared seed bed. If the ground is in just the right condition twice over with harrow may be sufficient; but keep il going until tall Jumps are broken up, if 1t takes dozen goings-over- And it may need to be rolled once or twice during the process Thca 0 will be