crop very backward and a full crop cannot be made. 

 An application of Nitrate of Soda, the most quickly 

 available form of plant food in commercial use as a 35 

 fertilizer, soon after the crop shows the fresh green color 

 of new growth in the spring, prevents this loss of time 

 and establishes the crop so as to resist drouth and reach 

 and make use of the plant food necessary for the ma- 

 turity of its stalk and the ripening of its seed. 



Top-Dressings are also made to ad- 

 vantage on fruits and vegetables from -prn'^ 

 which the proportion of valuable prod- 

 uce to stalk or vine is so great. With these crops 

 there must be no check in the regular growth of the 

 plants, and Nitrate of Soda alone insures this. With 

 other forms of Nitrogen plant food, 

 rains or cool weather interfere with the How all 

 regular supply of Nitrate, by checking Nitrogen is, 



the action of the organisms which cause w-^^j SS i;[ji 

 XT .. & , , Nitrated, and 



me JNitration 01 crude substances, slowness of 



Top-dressings are also used on very roll- the Process, 

 ing lands, for the hill tops show lighter- 

 colored foliage in prolonged periods of dry weather, 

 then light applications of Nitrate of Soda are found to 

 be profitable. 



On heavy clay soils, spring working is impracti- 

 cable, as it results in puddling the top soil. In this 

 case fertilizers cannot be worked into the soil even for 

 spring planting, and Nitrate of Soda is used in the form 

 of a top-dressing spread broadcast. 



In top-dressing soils, it is very im- 

 portant to secure an even application j^^g p ~ 

 over the whole area. As the ordinary 

 application per acre is about 100 pounds, it is difficult 

 to get an even distribution unless the bulk of the 

 material is increased. The best method of doing this 

 is to crush the Nitrate of Soda thoroughly and mix 

 carefully with about its own weight of fine dry loam. 

 This mixture should only be made immediately before 

 using, though the Nitrate may be crushed at any time 

 if mixed at once with an equal bulk of fine, clean sand. 

 Where top-dressings are made with a machine, it is 

 necessary that the mixture be dry. 



