354 Reading-Course for Farmers. 



These Bulletins can not be sent to persons who reside out- 

 side OF the State of New York, as both courses are supported by 

 a State appropriation. 



The purpose of this Bulletin is to point out a few of the ways 

 by which commercial fertihzers and farm manures furnish plant-food 

 constituents. One class is concentrated and quick acting; the other less 

 compact and brings results by indirect action. 



A discussion of the following questions will help you to get at the 

 underlying principles. 



1. When a soil is " worn out," what material has most probably 

 been diminished? 



2. When a soil produces oats with short straw, what element of 

 fertility is most often lacking? 



3. What kind of soil has plenty of nitrogen ? What kind has plenty 

 of potash? 



4. What sources of nitrogen in fertilizers should be used if one 

 wishes part of the nitrogen to be quick acting and part to become 

 available as the season advances? 



5. When grain grows with long straw and lodges, what fertilizing 

 element is abundant in the soil and what elements should be added 

 if any? 



6. What amounts of nitrate of soda (15 per cent, nitrogen), dried- 

 blood (10 per cent, nitrogen), acid phosphate (14 per cent, phosphoric 

 acid), and sulphate of potash (50 per cent, potash), would be required 

 to make a ton of fertilizer with the following composition; nitrogen 2 

 per cent, (one-half to come from the dried-blood and one-half from the 

 nitrate of soda), phosphoric acid 7 per cent, and potash 6 per cent? 



