158 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



Potash and phosphoric acid being practically absent, the fertilizing value of this 

 substance depends on its percentage of nitrogen and the readiness with which this 

 element might be liberated for plant use. 



From what has already been said it might be inferred that the relative value or 

 usefulness of nitrogen in various fertilizers differs greatly, according to its availability. 

 Thus, the nitrogen of nitrate of soda is immediately usable by crops, and capable of 

 giving a large increase in yield at once; it is consequently worth more, pound for 

 pound, than the nitrogen in bone meal, which only becomes slowly available by the 

 decay of the bone in the soil. The relative values or availability of the nitrogen in 

 certain of the more important agricultural forms, as ascertained by vegetation tests, 

 has been given, approximately, as follows: — 



Nitrate of soda 100 



Dried blood 70 



Ground fish and flesh meal 65 



Bone meal 60 



Leather, wool, hair, horn and hoof 5 to 30 



Presuming that all the nitrogen present exists as flesh, then we may assign to it a 

 value equal to half of the value of nitrogen in nitrate of soda, but if there is any ad- 

 mixture of hair, leather, &c, then it might not be worth more than one-fourth that 

 amount. 



Leather waste and hair. — These, agriculturally speaking, are of very little value, 

 owing to their power of resisting decay. Thus, though they may contain large amounts 

 of nitrogen, this element is ' locked up ' so securely as to be for a very long time quite 

 useless to plants. Some authorities state that decomposition may be started and the 

 nitrogen set free by composting the leather waste with actively fermenting dung, with 

 urine or with strong alkalies, such as potash, but considering the refractory character 

 of this material, the writer is of the opinion that nitrogen can be obtained cheaper, as 

 from the clover crop, for instance. However, if it is wished to make a trial, a plan 

 suggested would be to place the waste in alternate layers with good unleached wood 

 ashes in a large vat, keeping the mass thoroughly moistened. At the expiration of 

 several months the waste will be disintegrated and to a certain extent decomposed. A 

 modification of this plan would be to pour a hot solution of lye over the waste and allow 

 to remain for some time. Fertilizer manufacturers adopt the method of roasting the 

 leather waste and heating with sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol) subsequently neutralizing 

 the residue. This process is the most effective towards making the nitrogen assimil- 

 able, but unfortunately it is not practicable upon the farm, special apparatus and ex- 

 perience being required. 



SEA-WEED. 



Large quantities of sea-weed may be collected on both the eastern and western 

 coasts of Canada, and hence farmers are constantly inquiring as to its fertilizing 

 value and the best methods for its use. 



In the report of this Division for 1894, we published the analysis of rock-weed 

 (Fucus furcatus), obtained in January, at Smith's Cove, N.S. The data showed that 

 it was to be considered as a valuable manure, on account of the potash and nitrogen 

 it contained. 



Composition of Rock-weed, 



p. c. 



Water 63-49 



Organic matter 27 '93 



Ash and mineral matter 8-58 



100 -00 



