163 



for each spraying, 93 cents, and the net profit 

 per acre $24.86. Not only were the gains in 

 yield due mainly to * lengthening the time of 

 growth by preventing foliage destruction by late 

 blight,' but the sprayed potatoes being more ma- 

 ture, were of better cooking quality." (U. S. 

 Dept. of Agriculture, Bulletin 251, page 9 

 1906). 



Stable and barnyard manure furnish heat as 

 well as plant food; to get the maximum advan- 

 tage of both it must be carefully treated and not 

 allowed to waste itself on the desert air. Manu- 

 factured fertilizers can be used to great advan- 

 tage if used wisely, but before paying forty dol- 

 lars a ton, one must know exactly what the ton 

 is composed of, what to do with it, and what the 

 results are to be, for learning all of which there 

 are abundant facilities in the books. The beginner 

 is safe on stable manure, but on very dangerous 

 ground with these commercial fertilizers. It is 

 wise for him to use manufactured fertilizer only 

 to raise green crops to plow under, in order so 

 to improve the land as not to need to use them 

 again. The bill for them is sure to come in, but 



