318 FOB AGE CROPS 



This application, when used without manure, 

 may be 300 to 600 pounds per acre; with manure, 

 about 200 to 350 pounds per acre. This should be 

 applied j^revious to seeding and well harrowed in. 



If the stand on young meadows is good, no top- 

 dressing is needed the first year, on good lands. 

 In spring, after the first year, the meadow should 

 be top-dressed with a commercial fertilizer, or 

 with finely divided manure early in the season, in 

 order to supply the food needed for the rapid 

 growth, as well as to encourage the deep rooting of 

 the grasses, and a thickening of the sward. The 

 mixtures for spring top-dressing should contain a 

 large proportion of nitrate of soda, as this is the 

 one form of nitrogen that is soluble and readily 

 diffusible in the soil; this will penetrate deeply 

 and encourage a deeper rooting of the plant. A 

 formula made up as follows is one of the best: 



Nitrate of soda 500 pounds 



Ground bone . . 200 pounds 



Acid phosphate 200 pounds 



Muriate of potash 100 pounds 



The summer or fall applications may contain a 

 larger proportion of the minerals, and a formula 

 made up of 



Nitrate of soda 200 pounds 



Ground bone 200 pounds 



Acid phosphate 500 pounds 



Muriate of potash 100 pounds 



