The Composition and Use of Fertilizers. 271 



every plant in the field. In order to distribute small quantities 

 of concentrated fertilizers over a broad area, it is well to dilute 

 by mixing with some such substance as dry earth, road dust, sifted 

 coal ashes or sand. 



Drilling and Broadcasting. — As between applying fertilizers 

 with the drill or by broadcasting, the best results are given some- 

 times by one and sometimes bv the other method, according to 

 the crop and special conditions. Labor is saved by using the 

 drill, while the best ultimate results appear more often to come 

 from broadcasting, ploughing or harrowing in accordance to cir- 

 cumstances. When a fertilizer is especially needed by a crop 

 in its earliest stages, there is advantage in drilling it in with the 

 seed. When concentrated fertilizers are to be distributed broad- 

 cast, it is desirable that they should be somewhat diluted to 

 promote uniform distribution. When a concentrated fertilizer 

 is drilled in, great pains must be taken to keep the fertilizer from 

 coming into direct contact with the seed, because many of the 

 commercial fertilizing materials will injure the seed if brought 

 into direct contact. Drilling has the advantage of placing the 

 plant food just where the rootlets of the young plant can use it 

 in the early stages of growth, when they most need it. Where 

 the root system is small and is confined to rows or hills some 

 distance apart, drilling may use less plant food than broadcasting 

 for an equally good crop. 



Distribution of Soluble Fertilizers. — Materials which are 

 readily soluble can be scattered over the surface. After the 

 first fall of rain they distribute themselves throughout the soil 

 very completely and uniformly. Such materials are nitrate of 

 soda, sulphate of ammonia, soluble phosphates and soluble potash 

 salts. These materials are preferably used in case of top- 

 dressing. 



Distribution of Fertilizers not Readily Soluble. — Ma- 

 terials which are not readily soluble are preferably well mixed 

 through and beneath the soil. Thus, dried blood, bone-meal, fish 

 scrap and similar materials are best placed at greater or less 

 depth beneath the soil, because under these conditions they be- 

 come soluble more rapidly and are retained more surely by the 

 soil. However, the mistake should not be made of working such 

 materials into the soil too deeply, because their plant food may 

 be lost by leaching and carried down beyond the reach of the 

 roots. 



