FERTILIZERS "FOR HORTICULURAL PURPOSES. 433 



courage the exclusive growth of clover and the crowding out of 

 grasses. During the season, two or three applications can be mad'* 

 of a commercial fertilizer containmg J^bout thr»"e per cent of nitro- 

 gen, ten per cent of phosphoric acid and three per cent of potash, 

 at the rate of about one pound per square rod. When part of the 

 nitrogen is in the form of nitrates and part as ammonium salts, better 

 results are secured than when the nitrogen is all in one form. It is 

 also advisable te supply the phosphoric acid in more than one 

 form. An even application of the fertilizer is quite necessary, other- 

 wise the growth is "patchy." Hardwood ashes evenly spread at the 

 rate of one to two pounds per square rod can also be used advantage- 

 ously as a lawn fertilizer, and when they are used they should be rein- 

 forced with nitrate of soda. 



The application and judicious use of commercial fertilizers is 

 both an art and a science, the underlying principles of which are 

 somewhat similar in nature to those of the feeding of animals. A 

 good horticulturist always likes to see a well nourished plant or tree. 



Mr. Yahnke : Would those fertilizers used on strawberries have 

 any effect on the brightness of the color? 



Prof. Snyder: We probably would not be able to use any one 

 fertilizer that would make a brighter color. I think the high color 

 is an indication of healthy growth and development, and when a 

 plant receives perfect culture the best color in the fruit is developed. 



Mr. Underwood : Is there any danger of overdoing the matter 

 of fertilizing by manure, stable manure? 



Prof. Snyder : The only danger would be if you had a soi! 



• with a good deal of limestone you would probably have a rank 



growth caused from an excess of nitrogen, and it would not enable 



the plant to cure, as )'OU might say, get ready to go into winter 



quarters. I think that w^ould depend largely upon the soil 



Mr. Underwood : What would be the effect on black loam with 

 clay subsoil or on sandy soil? 

 , Prof. Snyder: On sandy soil there would be less danger of 

 this because there would not be the large amount of reserve plant 

 food which would push the plant. In black loam soil we are most 

 likely to find the conditions I have described. What experience I 

 have had with fertilizers on black soil would be in favor of using 

 farm manures. 



Mr. Underwood : I can say that I have no special method, 

 but I have made a practice of putting on stable manure every fall 

 and winter, and I only ask for information as to whether there is 

 any liability of overdoing the matter. 



Prof. Snyder : A medium application each year is preferable 

 to a heavy application every third year. An application every year 

 would not be so liable to cause injury. 



Mr. Yahnke: I have tried this experiment, and I know it is 

 true, just as he says. 



