Plant-Food and Use of Fertilizers. 159 



torn for the leading experiment stations of the East, to annually adopt a 

 schedule of trade values for nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash ; these prices 

 being governed by the prevailing wholesale prices of the standard materials 

 as shown by the market reports of the commercial centers. 



SCHEDULE OF TRADE VALUES ADOPTED BY EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



Cents per lb. 

 1903. 



Nitrogen in Nitrates ■ 15.0 



Nitrogen in Ammonia Salts 17.5 



Organic Nitrogen in dried and tine-ground fish, meat and blood, and in 



mixed fertilizers 17.0 



Organic Nitrogen in fine-ground bone and tankage 16.5 



Organic Nitrogen in coarst bone and tankage 12.0 



Phosphoric Acid, soluble in water 4.5 



Phosphoric Acid, soluble in ammonium citrate 4.0 



Phosphoric Acid, insoluble in fine bone and tankage 4.0 



Phosphoric Acid, insoluble in coarse bone and tankage 3.0 



Phosphoric Acid, insoluble mixed fertilizers 2.0 



PhosDhoric Acid, soluble in fine-ground fish, cotton-seed meal, castor pomace 



and wood ashes 4.0 



I'otash as Muriate 4.25 



Potash as Sulphate, and in forms free from muriates (or chlorids) 5.0 



Owing to distance from Eastern markets, transportation rates and to the 

 amounts of material used, fertilizers in Oregon at the present time cost ap- 

 proximately one-fifth to one-half more than they do in the East. 



In Oregon according to the present prices and available material, the 

 probability is that nitrogen can best be bought as nitrate of soda or as fisji 

 guano ; phosphoric acid in the form of ground bone, acid phosphate, double 

 superphosphate, or Thomas slag ; potash as muriate or sulphate of potash. At 

 the present time potash and nitrogen do not cost very much more than they 

 do in the Eastern markets, while phosphoric acid costs much more and in 

 some cases twice as much. 



AYHEN AND HOW TO APPLY COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS, FARM 



MANURE AND ASHES. 



There is much uncertainly among farmers as to the manner of applying 

 fertilizers. Generally they should be sown broadcast and cultivated into the 

 soil. The feeding rootlets are not at the base of a tree or plant, but usually 

 are found some distance from the plant where they form a perfect network 

 of rootlets in the soil. If fertilizers are applied just at the base of the 

 plant they do but little good and many times much harm. 



yitrogoi in the form of nitrate should not be applied until the beginning 

 of the growing season. If applied too early much may be lost by leaching 

 out of the soil before the crop assimilates it. It is many times best to 

 apply the nitrate in two or three partial applications, say one-third at be- 

 ginning of the growing season, one-third three weeks later and the {ast 

 third two weeks later. 



Other forms of nitrogen may be applied earlier in the spring. 



Phosphoric Acid and Potash compounds may be applied early in the spring, 

 or even during the fall and winter without danger or loss by leaching out 

 of the soil (except on very sandy soils). 



It is best to apply those phosphates that contain much water-soluble phos- 

 phoric acid early in the spring, for if applied in the fall the phosphoric 

 acid tends to revert and become insoluble. Many times when potash is ap- 

 plied it tends to become fixed near the surface of the soil ; it is better, there- 

 fore, to apply it early in the spring and as soon as the ground is dry enough 

 to work thoroughly cultivate it into the soil. 



Farm Manures may be applied any time during the fall, winter or early 

 spring broadcast upon the land. The time and manner of application is gov- 

 erned largely by the crop or plants for which it is used. 



