172 



costs somewhat more per pound than in the form of cotton- 

 seed meal. Nitrate of soda is more quickly available than 

 cottonseed meal, and hence finds its most appropiate use on 

 vegetable or other crops in which quick growth is desired- 

 In Europe it is also extensively used on field crops, especially 

 as a top dressing in spring for small grain. Scattered over 

 growing grain in the spring it does not need to be worked 

 into the soil, but if the soil is damp a top dressing of nitrate 

 of soda is quickly diffused. Its favorable effect may often be 

 seen in a week in the deeper green and accelerated growth of 

 the plants. 



Three series of experiments, two with fall sown oats, and 

 one with spring oats, were made here to determine the best 

 time of applying nitrate of soda. 



On Red Rust Proof oats sown in the fall on sandy up- 

 land nitrate of soda, at the rate of 80 lbs. per acre was applied,, 

 broadcast at several different dates in the spring of 1896. In 

 addition to the nitrate of soda, a complete fertilizer containing 

 cotton seed meal had been used at time of sowing. 



The dates of application and condition of soil and plants 

 at the several dates follow : 



March 28. — Oats well branched, some leaves 6 inches 

 long, soil rather moist, rain a few days after 

 fertilizer was applied. 



April 21. — Plants beginning to throw up seed stems,^ 

 land very dry and no rain fell until eight days 

 after fertilizer was used. 



April 30. — Plants beginring to head, soil moist, rain on 

 preceding night and also on the second day 

 after the application of the nitrate of soda. 



May 12. — Heads open on all plants, soil very dry; a 

 shower fell two days later. 



The grain on all plots, which were one-tenth acre in size, 

 was harvested May 27. 



The results are given in the following table: 



