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Show soil, so that the small feeder roots of plants will gradually reach It. Elements in Fertilizers. The three main elements of plant food contained In commercial fertilizers are phosphoric acid, nitrogen, and potash. Nitrogen has the effect of stimulating the leaf growth, and phosphoric phos-phoric acid and potash have a tendency to Increase root growth and to mature the seeds of the plants. Root crops and potatoes require a reasonable amount of potash. Corn, beans, and others of the garden crops, which are grown for their pods or seeds, want a sufficient supply rtf phosphoric acid, while lettuce, let-tuce, celery, Swiss chard, and others of the salad or leaf crops require plenty of nitrogen. The safest plan, however, Is to apply an all-round or complete fertilizer having approximately approxi-mately 8 per cent phosphoric acid, 4 or 5 per cent nitrogen, and 2 or 3 per cent potash on land that Is to be devoted de-voted to general garden crops. RICH SOIL SURE TO GET RESULTS Danger in Use of Too Much Commercial Com-mercial Fertilizer; May Injure In-jure the Plants. AS TOP OR SIDE DRESSING May Be Mixed With Soil Along Rows During the Period of Growth Mixtures Containing Much Nitrogen Are Favored. A limited quantity of high-grade eom-meirlsl eom-meirlsl fertilizer can be used to advantage ad-vantage on garden soils even where a ronsiderable supply of barnyard aianures have been applied. Commercial Com-mercial fertilizers act quickly and can oe used to special advantage where It Is desired to mature crops In a short period of time. The best results can be obtained by the use of fertilizer on land that Is well tilled with organic matter. However, How-ever, fair results may be obtained by the use of fertilizer on land that has aot been manured and w;hich Is deficient de-ficient In organic matter, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Agri-culture. The great danger In the use of commercial com-mercial fertilizers is that too large quantities may be applied and cause Injury to the plants. It rnhst be borne In mind that commercial fertilizers are a very concentrated form of plant food nnd. therefore, should be used in moderation. Amount Needed in Garden. Market gardeners frequently use as much as 2,000 pounds of commercial fertilizer on an acre of ground. This would be at the rate of about 4 or 5 pounds to a plot of ground 10 feet In each direction or 100 square feet. As-fumtng As-fumtng that the average backyard garden Is about 30 by 00 feet In size. 50 to 70 pounds of standard, high-grade truckers' fertilizer would he all that would be safe to apply on a garden of those dimensions. Under most conditions con-ditions 50 pounds will be the maximum amount to use. Commercial fertilizers nre usually jflit op In sacks containing 100, 167 or 200 pounds, and a good plan would be for two or more gardeners to join together In buying fertilizer. Methods of Application. There are two or three methods of applying commercial fertilizers. The first and most common Is by scattering the fertilizer broadcast over the land after It has been plowed and harrowed, then giving the soil a second and even a third harrowing to mix the fertilizer with It thoroughly. Another method Is to apply the fertilizer underneath the rows, the plan being to open the furrows, fur-rows, scatter In the fertilizer, then, by means of a single-shovel plow or wheel hoe, thoroughly mix the fertilizer with the soli In the bottom of the furrow. fur-row. The surface soil Is then returned re-turned and no seeds are planted for a few days until the fertilizer becomes thoroughly Incorporated with the soil. The third method of applying commercial com-mercial fertilizers Is to use them as a top or side dressing along the rows of plants during the period of growth. Nitrate of soda and fertilizer mixtures containing a considerable percentage of nitrogen are generally used for this purpose. When using fertilizer as a side dressing care should be taken that It Is not applied too near the base of the plants, but at a little distance from the row, and then it should be cultivated culti-vated Into the upper 2 or 3 Inches of |