144 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



orchards or vineyards, although some growers sometimes use double the 

 quantity. Half the above quantity has a marked eflPect. 



NITEATE OF SODA. 



For nitrogen, when found necessary, nitrate of soda is among the best 

 materials, if we are to use a mineral. It is mined in Chili and Peru and sells 

 at about $50 per ton. The nitrogen is worth in this form about sixteen to 

 eighteen cents per pound. Other sources of nitrogen can be found in 

 tankage and other refuse from slaughter houses, in sulphate of ammonia, 

 and other waste materials. One hundred to two hundred pounds per acre 

 of nitrate of soda will be ample, and an excess often has an injurious 

 effect. Tq use fertilizers judiciously we should first learn by careful 

 experiments what elements are lacking in the soil, and knowing this we 

 can soon find out bow much of each element is required. Any other 

 method of using fertilizers is likely to end in disappointment, as we are 

 only throwing into the soil plant food that has cost us money, when the 

 soil already may have more than is needed by the crop. 



While many of the prepared fertilizers are all that is claimed for them, 

 we are likely to make a mistake unless we find that our soil needs the 

 elements they contain. Moreover, it often happens that we can buy the 

 elements we need in the form of ground bone, muriate of potash, wood 

 ashes, or nitrate of soda cheaper than the price we have to pay for the 

 ready prepared fertilizer, and if we have made proper experiments we are 

 able perhaps to make up a mixture better adapted to our wants. 



As most of these fertilizers are readily soluble they should be applied in 

 the spring. We must understand that before it can be used by plants, 

 food must be in solution, and as for this water must be present in the soil, 

 it often happens that in a season of protracted drouth little or no effect 

 from commercial fertilizers can be seen. 



The next paper was by Mr. K. M. Kellogg of Ionia, upon the highly 

 practical topic, 



FIGHTING THE DROUTH. 



Unlike the great Pacific coast and the arid plains east of the Eocky 

 mountains, Michigan has no snowcapped peaks to store up vast quantities 

 of water in the form of snow and ice during the storms of winter, to be 

 gradually unlocked and distributed through extensive systems of canals 

 and irrigating channels, as may be needed during the long, rainless months 

 of the summer; nor have the rain- makers yet succeeded in producing the 

 needed condensation of vapor constantly passing over our heads, hence, 

 for the present at least, we must look to the bounteous supplies which lie 

 hidden under our fertile fields, and on which we may draw at pleasure. 



There are few countries that suffer less from drouth than our own beloved 

 Michigan, and we have only to retain the moisture for a few weeks to 

 accomplish all that is desired in this direction, and this we can do with 

 entire success wherever mulching or cultivation can be put into operation. 



There are but few places where the water does not come within a few 

 feet of the surface; and we have but to prevent evaporation, and the sun's 

 rays will draw up an abundance of water to supply the demands of plant 



