24 CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT. 



RELATIVE ACTIVITY OF MANURES. 



Nitrogen. — Most active in — 1st, Nitrates ; 2nd, Ammonia salts ; 3rJ. 

 High-class Peruvian and Ichaboe guanos ; 4th, High-class dissolved com- 

 pounds ; 5th, Dried blood ; 6th, Steamed bone flour ; 7th, Fish guano and 

 tine bone meal ; 8th, Rape cake and cotton cake dust ; 9th, Bone dust and 

 crushed bones. 



Phosphates. — Most active in — 1st, Superphosphates and dissolved phos- 

 phates derived from any source ; 2nd, Precipitated and reverted phos- 

 phates : 3rd, Steamed bone flour ; 4th, Bone ash ; 5th Charleston and 

 similar phosphates ground to the finest flour ; 6th, Bone meal and fish 

 guano ; 7th, Bone dust and crushed bones. 



HINTS ON THE APPLICATION OF MANURES. 



Nitrogenous Manures. 



Nitrate of Soda. — Apply as a top-dressing to the braird. Showery weather 

 advantageous. Heavy rains cause loss. Two half doses with fort- 

 night interval better than one whole dose. Increases straw more 

 than grain. Increases grass, diminishes clover. 



Sulphate of Ammonia. — Apply as top-dressing after sowing, not after 

 brairding. Increases grass, diminishes clover. More suitable than 

 nitrate for wet districts. 



High Class Guanos. — Apply with the seed, or partly as top dressing. Useful 

 for young grass and early potatoes. 



Dissolved Compounds. — Apply with the seed. 



Dried Blood. — Apply a month or more before sowing, if possible. If applied 

 with the seed, useful for root-crops only. 



Fisli Ckiano. — Best on warm, open lanl, and in moist climates. Apply as 

 early as possible. Should not contain more than 3 per cent. oil. 



Leather and Shoddy. — Of no value to the farmer. 



Phosphatic Manures. 



Superphosphate. — Best phosphate for clayey soils. Suits medium soils. 

 Makes early crop, therefore good for late districts. Increases grain 

 more than straw. 



Precipitated Phosphate. — Best on medium and light land. 



Steamed Bone Flour. — Should be finely ground and applied early. Best on 

 light soils or on moorland. Suits wet climates. Excellent improver 

 of pastures. Quicker than bone meal in its action. 



Bone Ash. — Generally applicable. Best on light land. 



Bone Meal. — Should be as fine as possible, and applied early. Best on light, 

 free soils, and on sandy soils. 



Mineral Phosphate. — Must be ground to the finest flour, and feel soft and 

 chalky. Best on moorland and land rich in organic matter. Should 

 be applied A'ery early. 



Bone Dust and Crushed Bones. — More suitable for vine borders than for 

 agricultural purposes. 



Phosphatic Manures. — When applied alone, frequently fail to give a full 

 crop. Some nitrogenous manure onglit as a rule to be mixed with 

 them, or applied later as a top-dressing. 



