324 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



retarding the ripening process : in the case of the sugar-beet 

 root this effect is simply ruinous, and therefore that mode 

 of operation is ruled out in that branch of agricultural in- 

 dustry. This feature of its .action, once duly recognized, 

 furnishes the key to a proper understanding of many con- 

 tradictory reports and opinions regarding its merits as a 

 most valuable nitrogen source in general and special farm- 

 industry. To secure its very efficient property, to stimulate 

 a luxuriant and vigorous growth unimpaired, requires as the 

 first condition of success an early application. 



As phosphoric acid is known to hasten the ripening pro- 

 cess, and thus tends by its action to shorten the period of 

 vegetation, it is a good practice to use the nitrate, in connec- 

 tion with a liberal amount of that acid in some available form, 

 to produce large crops of a good quality. The Chili saltpetre, 

 favoring rapid growth, produces usually, in case of grain- 

 crops, stems with long thin internodes, which are liable to 

 lodge. To counteract this tendency, an excess of seed ought 

 to be avoided, and a cultivation in wide drills be adopted 

 to improve the chances of a healthy development of each 

 individual plant. In case of the cultivation of beet-roots 

 for sugar manufacture, where small roots are more valuable, 

 A liberal use of this saline manure decidedly promotes that 

 object, provided a fair amount of good seed has been used. 

 The Chili saltpetre excels in a light or sandy soil every other 

 nitrogen compound in efficiency : in heavy soils its effect is 

 less pronounced. The best results have been obtained upon 

 ii deep humus containing loam. 



Some of the most successful cultivators of beet-roots in 

 Germany apply, in the latter case, by deep ploughing, one- 

 half of the amount of the nitrate they Mdsh to use during 

 the autumn, the rest at an early date in the following 

 spring. Its peculiar binding action on the soil renders a 

 thorough cultivation essential to retain it in a mellow condi- 

 tion. Although its indirect beneficial re-action on the soil 

 as a diffuser of phosphoric acid and potash, and also as a 

 promoter of its hygroscopic quality, is by no means small, 

 its positive merits as a source of nitrogen for a healthy and 

 vigorous plant-growth are most conspicuous, and deserving 

 a careful consideration and trial on the part of intelligent 

 farmers. For various reasons it would be best to buy the 



