MANURES 43 



The complete mixture: 



Nitrate of soda 150 Ibs. furnishing 23 Ibs. of nitrogen 



Dried blood 230 Ibs. furnishing 23 Ibs. of nitrogen 



Tankage 330 Ibs. furnishing 23 Ibs. of nitrogen 



and 27 Ibs. phosphoric acid 

 Acid phosphate 950 Ibs. furnishing 133 Ibs. phosphoric 



acid 

 High-grade sulphate of potash, 400 Ibs. furnishing 200 Ibs. potash 



2060 Ibs. 



It will be noted that we have a small excess above one 

 ton. This is not important and is due to the fact that 

 the nearest round numbers have been employed." 



Effect of Manure on Crops. The proportions of the 

 various plant foods used by different crops vary consider- 

 ably, some using a larger amount of one element and some 

 of another. The visible effects of the essential elements 

 when in excess in the soil are also quite different. Garden 

 plants that are grown especially for their foliage use large 

 quantities of nitrogen and require it in order to be per- 

 fectly healthy, and seed-producing plants use large quanti- 

 ties of phosphoric acid and potash. Where nitrogen in 

 a soluble form is very abundant so as to be in excess in the 

 soil, it w r ill be found that the plants growing on it are 

 noticeable for their dark green color and rank leaf and stem 

 growth, and for late maturity of fruit and seed. In the 

 case of small grain, it may result in such a weak, soft, 

 succulent growth that the stems cannot support themselves 

 and they become "lodged," and such growth may be 

 gained without an increase in the yield of grain. In the 

 case of lawns a soft, thick sod is made ; in the case of spinach, 

 cabbage and other leaf crops, vigorous, large plants result; 

 while tree and bush fruits, under such conditions, make a 

 soft, late-maturing growth that easily winter-kills. 



