1^4 Harshberger. — Ma ize : 



with potash alone, or phosphoric acid alone, or all three com- 

 bined, increased the yield materially. 1 



The results prove that nitrogen combined with some min- 

 eral salt (potash preferably) materially benefits maize, and 

 this essentially agrees with the physiological habit of the 

 other cereals, wheat, oats, barley and rye. Notwithstanding 

 this, William Frear and H. P. Armsby raised the question - 

 as to the truth of the statement that maize, as a cereal, 

 responded in increased starch to the increase of the nitro- 

 genous manures applied. " Upon comparison of the results 

 it was found that the nitrogen free extract in the grain pro- 

 duced upon plats receiving complete fertilizers, was the same 

 in percentage no matter what form of nitrogen had been 

 applied, and that in all cases where this ingredient was 

 applied there was less nitrogen free extract than was found 

 in the crops from the unfertilized plats." This argument is 

 weakened by the fact that maize is a gross feeder, and must 

 have its food in a shape to be readily absorbed by its deeply 

 penetrating roots, and it seems that some time must elapse 

 for the action of recently applied manures especially nitro- 

 genous, which become slowly available, to take place. The 

 Kentucky station records the fact " that the fertilizers applied 

 in 1888 were of benefit to the crop of 1890," which clearly 

 shows that it takes time for the nitrifying process to take 

 place. 



The nitrogen in the soil is prepared for the plant by the 

 process of nitrification. The older theories explained this 

 oxydizing process as a merely passive chemical reaction, 

 taking place when suitable compounds were in contact. The 

 newer theory, however, which is gaining ground, ascribes 

 this process of nitrite and nitrate formation to living organ- 

 isms — minute bacteria. The historical development is inter- 

 esting. Pasteur stated long ago that probably the nitric acid 

 was produced in soil by a living organism similar to those 

 which cause fermentation and putrefaction. Schlosing and 



1 Xew York Stat., 8 Rep , 1892, 56-260. 



-Nitrogen Supply of Maize, 00c. Promotion Agric. Sci. Proc, VII, 33; Rep. Penna. 

 State College, 18S9, Part 11, 199. 



