292 CROP GROWING AND CROP FEEDING 



Practically the same amount of lime and other ingredients would be con- 

 tained in the following: 



Air slaked lime 2000 pounds 



Dissolved phosphate rock 1460 pounds 



Muriate of potash 400 pounds 



Nitrate of soda 510 pounds." 



All of which we assume is probably theoretically true, and yet in the 

 effort to make an artificial substitute for the wood ashes, would there not be a 

 danger of a great loss of nitrogen ? We are of the opinion that these matters 

 may well be applied to some soils, but that the fertilizing chemicals should 

 be mixed and applied, and the lime applied separately and not in mixture 

 with the fertilizers. So far as the long-continued after effect of the wood 

 ashes is concerned, we are of the opinion that the Ehode Island Station is 

 to a great extent correct in attributing at least part of it to the lime they con- 

 tain, and especially we would add to the extremely fine condition in which the 

 lime exists in the wood ashes. But we consider it an error to advise the use 

 of air slaked lime as an application to the soil. Freshly water slaked lime is 

 far better. Then, too, while ashes have a long after effect, we cannot agree 

 to the statement that similar after effects are not found from applications of 

 potash salts and phosphoric acid. In a considerable section with which we are 

 familiar the long continued use of phosphoric acid to the soil has resulted 

 in an accumulation, so that farmers there no longer find any effect from new 

 applications of superphosphate, and it is a well known fact that potash ac- 

 cumulates in a similar manner. 



To the following remarks from the Rhode Island Station we heartily 

 agree: "Barnyard manure contains relatively more nitrogen than potash, 

 and is notably deficient in phosphoric acid, so that if the manure is to be used 

 on the most economical basis a small amount of potash and a much larger 

 quantity of phosphoric acid should be used in connection with it. Owing to 

 the great variation in the composition of such manure, depending upon the 

 cattle food used, the care of the manure, and the amount of foreign matter 

 mixed with it, no attempt to give the exact amounts for use will be made. 

 A motto in relation to manures which should find its place on every farm 

 would read somewhat as follows: Save what you have, supplement it wisely 

 and buy economically." 



We would add that this saving and supplementing can well be done by 

 mixing the manure daily, when taken from the stable, with a mixture of acid 

 phosphate and kainit in equal parts. It has long been the practice with 

 some to use plaster for this purpose, but while plaster, if properly used, is 



