The Question Box. 279 



little nitrate of soda, being careful not to allow any of it to come 

 in contact with the leaves, else it will burn them. 



Mr. Chapman. — One should be careful in applying nitrate of 

 soda to strawberries. Do not apply too much, else it will so 

 stimulate the plants that it will set too many blossoms which will 

 develop a crop of small berries. Nitrate of soda, if it comes in 

 contact with the leaves, however, will not injure them unless they 

 are wet. 



"What is the mercantile value of a fertilizer containing 14 per cent, of 

 acid phosphate soluble in water? 



Mr. Cook. — That is no more or less than dissolved South-Caro- 

 lina rock, which, I understand, is now worth about |14 per ton. 

 I have several tons which I bought awhile ago for $11, but since 

 then all fertilizer chemicals have gone up in price. The usual 

 phosphoric acid has a tendency to set free potash in a certain 

 degree in the soil, now unavailable. 



How are we to get the manure on to our steep hillsides? 



Mr. Cook. — If your buildings are below the hill I know of no 

 way to get the manure on to the hills, except by drawing it there. 



Would not the continued use of phosphoric acid tend to decrease that 

 of nitrogen and potash in the soil? 



Answer. — Possibly, but I would continue using it as long as 

 benefits were derived. 



Is it best to top-dress the meadows with manure from the stable or 

 use it on cultivated ground? 



Mr. Ward. — Put it out on the corn ground. What that crop 

 does not take up, will be left for the oats or other grain crops that 

 are to follow, or for the meadow later on. 



Would you use plaster in your stables for an absorbent? 



Mr. Cook. — No; I would not draw it home if it were given to me. 

 It will absorb, but I prefer dissolved South-Carolina rock. There 

 are about 280 pounds of phosphoric acid in a ton of it, and one- 

 half of the remainder is pure plaster; so we get the plaster, prac- 

 tically free. 



