THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST AND BEEKEEPER

The Use of Commercial Fertilizers
W. M. Grant, Blenheim, Ont.

AVING had for a number of
seasons,   considerable  experi-
ence in the use of contiercial
fertilizers  in c'onnection  with early
vegetable and fruit production, I pro-
pose outlining herewith the methods I
used and the results obtained. The all
important fertilizing elements neces-
sary to plant life are nitrogen, phos-
phate and potash, and if all these are
not present in the soil in readily avail-
able form and in sufficient quantities,
no plant can properly develop. To
supply these most economically to in-
sure best planrt growth, maintain and
insure soil fertility and best mechani-
cal conditions are problems which all
tillers of the soil must solve if maxi-
mum results are to be attained.
To get the best results from the use
of fertilizers it is essential that land be
thoroughly 'drained either naturally or
artificially. Then to correct any super-
abundant soil 'acidity 'a generous ap-
plication of lime should be made, a ton
to the acre every five years is none too
much. The land should then be in good
condition to receive the necessary pre-
paration for crop production.
MY practice has 'been to make pro-
vision in the spring to have some le'gu-
ininous crop coning along. In the fall
this is supplemented by an application
of five or six spreader loads of manure
per acre, when manure      is available.
This is turned under in the fall 'and

supplies the necessary humus and in
addition small quantities of nitrogen,
phosphate and potash. In the spring I
cross-plow and apply about 400 lbs. of
16 per cent. acid phosphate per acre.
This is thoroughly worked into the
soil, wihich is put in 'condition to re-
ceive my early vegetable pliants, cab-
bage land 'cauliflower. These are start-
ed under glass and are ready for the
fields as soon as the soil can be got
in condition to receive them.
About a week after they are set
out, a hand application of about 250
lbs. per acre of a 4-0-7  fertilizer  is
made. This is thoroughly worked into
the soil and aibou't two weeks later a
similar application is made. This igives
the necessary boost when it is most
needed, and before   the soil nitrogen
becomes readily available.
Under this treatment I invariably
have cauliflower fit to cut by June 1st,
and cabbage a week later, and prices
that are realized at that season 'of the
year will give gross returns of from
$350 to $400 per acre.
Tomato Land.
Early   tomato    land    I    treat
somewhat     similarly  but   give   a
more     generous    application    of
acid   phosphate     from     600   to
800 lbs. per acre. In the past I have
been making only one application of
4-0-7 at the rate of 300 lbs. per acre

The early maturity of the tomatoes grown by Mr. W. M. Grant, of Blenheim, Ont., is shown
in this illustration obtained on June 26, 1918. He attributes this and the large yield to the
proper balancing of the plant food with fertilizers.

shortly after plants are set out, but
this conting season I purpose following
the advice of one of our most compe-
tent vegetable men. I intend making
an application of nitrate of soda as the
first fruits begin to ripen, when the
greatest strain is being made on the
vine and 'before the soil fertility is
fully available.
In the season   of 1917, under the
methodis outlined, I realized gross re-
turns of $982 off 75 square rods of
ground in which I grew,3,000 tomato
plarnts, staking some and training to a
single stem.
In the growing of early vegetable
crops, we must remember we expect
to get our returns in a comparatively
short time and early in the season be-
fore soil fertility is readily available,
and to aid nature   in giving us good
returns, we must supply the necessary
fertilizing elements in the most avail-
able form and at the right time.
Results With Fruits.
In the growing of fruit my experi-
ence is largely confined to apples. My
orchard is principally Baldwins, cov-
ering four and (a half acres. In the
past I have plowed as 'early in the
spring as possible and have practiced
close cultivation until about July 1st
when a cover crop of either alfalfa,
red clover or hairy vetch was sown. In
ihe fall of the year I have applied
about 500 lbs. of a 16 per cent acid
phosphate per acre, depending on the
leguminous crops 'to suppily the neces-
sary nitrogen. Under this treatment
my trees have made splendid growth
and yielded fatirly wel, my average
yearly ireturns being over $1,000 gross
per year. I think the orchard should
do better if properly fertilized and
this coming season I propose applying
5 lbs. nitrate of soda and 5 lbs. 16 per
cent. acid phosphate around each tree,
making the application a'bout April
15th, when the tree requires this
quick acting fertilizer to enable it to
properly develop 'both leaf and fruit
buds.
In the past my application of com-
inercial fertilizer has been fairly gen-
erous, as experience has taught me
that it is better to be on the safe side
and apply perhaps a little more than
is necesary rather than take a chance
of robbing the soil and starving the
plant by applying too little.
No plant food is so slow in its action
and so difficult of access to the plant as
the natural phosphates in the soil.  To
a very large extent the roots only obtain
the supply they need by direct contact
with and the actual corrosion of solid
particles of phosphate in the soil.

I

March, 1919.

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