150 ■ EXPERIMEXTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTOKIA, A. 1901 



cated Tvill be necessary, since that fertilizer contains a considerable proportion (usually 

 12 per cent to 15 per cent) of free lime. 



Shallow culture, i.e. shallow ploughing with an occasional loosening, but not 

 bringing to the gurface, of the subsoil is to be advised for this and similar soils. It 

 seems desirable owing to its light and hungry character to keep the humus, lime and 

 other fertilizers as far as possible ins the first 4 or 5 inches of soil. A deep tilth is 

 undoubtedly a feature of great value, but it can scarcely be economically produced 

 and retained in very light and sandy soils. For further details as to the economical 

 impi'ovement of poor and exhausted soils, the reader is referred to the report of this 

 Division for 1899, page 133, et seq. 



Commercial Fertilizers. — In the question of commercial fertilizers it will only 

 be possible to indicate the general principles to be followed, since the nature of the 

 crop to be grown and the past history of the field must necessarily be taken into 

 consideration before definite formula for any specific purpose can be suggested. The 

 following remarks, however, maj- be useful : — 



Nitrogen.— Oi the commercial forms of organic nitrogen in British Columbia, 

 fish-waste prepared from the offal of the canning factories, sometimes known as fish- 

 meal or fish-pomace, holds a high place. Its composition will vary according to the 

 parts of the fish that predominate in its preparation ; thus, some samples may con- 

 tain between 2 and 3 per cent of nitrogen, and 10 to 15 per cent of phosphoric acid, 

 while others possess 5 to 7 per cent of nitrogen and 2 to 3 per cent phosphoric acid. 

 This fertilizer, it is obvious, may be used to supply two of the three elements gene- 

 rally necessary, but should be supplanted by a potash manure — such as Kainit, muri- 

 ate of potash, or wood ashes. 



We may regard it as a concentrated and quick acting manure, best used as a 

 top dressing or applied to the ploughed land and lightly harrowed in before seeding. 

 It has been applied witli success to grain crops and grass lands especially, and gives 

 the greatest returns on light, warm, well-drained loams. For an ordinary dressing, 

 a mixture of 500 pounds of fish-meal and 100 pounds of muriate of potash! per acre 

 is suggested. 



Nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia furnish large amounts of readily as- 

 similable nitrogen. Undoubtedly the former, considering the character of the soil, 

 will be the better; for acid soils and soils deficient in lime sulphate of ammonia may do 

 positive harm. From 100 pounds to 200 pounds per acre may be applied in several ap- 

 plications (at intervals of a few weeks) as a top dressing during the earlier months of 

 growth. The great solubility of nitrate, points to the advisability of never applying 

 it save when there are growing plants to make use of it, and the economy of several 

 small dressings, rather than one large one at the opening of the season. 



Phosphoric Acid. — Bone meal, superphosphate and basic (Thomas) slag are the 

 chief phosphatic fertilizers obtainable, leaving out of consideration fish pomace, 

 already referred to. Bone meal is a source of nitrogen also, containing from 2-5 

 to 4-0 per cent of this element. Its phosphoric acid is not immediately assimilable, 

 but becomes so gradually in a soil that is warm, moist, and well drained. It is pro- 

 bably better suited for grass lands and orchards than for crops with u short season of 

 growth. The usual application lies between 300 and 500 pounds per acre. 



Owing to the sourness of the soil of this tract and its deficiency in lime, the 

 writer is of the opinion that basic slag, finely ground, would be found a very useful 

 source of phosphoric acid. It contains in ihe neighbourhood of 17 per cent phon^phoric 

 acid, and 15 per cent free lime. Its application may be from 300 to 500 pounds per 

 acre. Such excellent results have been obtained from this fertilizer in Germany and 

 England, that it would appear to be well worth trial, especially on soils similar to those 

 we are now considering. Further information regarding basic slag will be found in 

 the report of this division for 1898. 



