SPECIAL FERTILIZERS. 397 



ience of comparison, the average yield per acre of wrap- 

 per leaf is included from Table VII, which gives the 

 methods of fertilization on each plot, total yield of all 

 grades of leaf on each plot, etc. 



Somewhat similar experiments have been made by 

 the Pennsylvania experiment station, but were inter- 

 rupted for lack of funds. The whole subject of feeding 

 the tobacco plant is fully discussed in Chapter VI, but 

 some further points applying specially to cigar leaf 

 should be mentioned here. Especially would we reiter- 

 ate that the proper use of appropriate commercial ferti- 

 lizers or agricultural chemic'tls is not injurious to either 

 quality or quantity of the yield. On the contrary, such 

 use improves the quality and increases the yield. But 

 "the proper use of appropriate fertilizers" covers many 

 things that can only be learned by long experience, and 

 cannot be taught in books. This matter has been closely 

 studied by practical farmers and by fertilizer experts 

 and manufacturers, especially during the past few years. 

 In addition to the popular fertilizers previously used 

 with general satisfaction by careful growers, this work 

 has resulted in bringing out some new "tobacco ash" 

 mixtures, for which much is expected. 



The first of these new mixtures to be announced 

 was Mapes "tobacco ash constituents," designed to be 

 used in connection with cottonseed meal or any material 

 supplying ammonia. The raw materials generally used 

 by the most successful tobacco growers in connection 

 with cottonseed meal, and also employed at Poquonock, 

 are double sulphate of potash (containing sulphate of 

 potash and sulphate of magnesia), high grade sulphate 

 of potash, cottonhull ashes, wood ashes and bone meal. 

 Both wood and cottonhull ash vary in quality, and are 

 at times the most expensive forms of potash. These 

 materials also may contain much more magnesia than 

 the crop requires. Jenkins declares that an excess of 



