,83 



would supply considerable magnesia. ^lagnesia increases 

 the fer(ili:y. I mean to find out, if possible, what is the dif- 

 ference between muriate of potash and the high grade, sul- 

 phate of potash, and we are now carrying on experiments 

 which will in time show a light on the three points: (1) As 

 to whether the diiference in results is due to natural differ- 

 ences in the soil, (2) whether it is due to the magnesia, or 

 (3) due to the different acids. 



In conclusion, you will want to know, is this sys'em to 

 be recommended, is it the best? That does not necessarily 

 follow. I have told you the results of an experiment that 

 was planned by someone else, but in view of resuls that 

 have been obtained by myself and by others by the use of 

 basic slag meal, I am inclined to highly recommend the 

 use of basic slag meal in the place of bone meal. It is not 

 so expensive. J recommend the slag meal for several cou- 

 sidera ions. Not only because it is less expensive but be- 

 cause it contains a lot of lime, not much free lime, not 

 enough to sweelen up sour soil, but lime is highly impor- 

 tant for apples, so if I were to start an orchard and there 

 was any question about the soil being sour, I should lime it. 

 but because it is limed it does not necessarily keep sweet 

 and here slag would help o\\^. Acid phosphate would not 

 do it, bone meal would not do it, but slag would do it. This 

 is worth while for other crops, too. Slag furnishes you with 

 a lot of magnesia and it also contains a large amount of iron 

 and iron is largely associated wiJi belter color both of 

 foliagje and fruit. Slag has the advantages of lower cost, a 

 supply of lime, a supply of iron, a supply of magnesia, but 

 the slag will have one disadvantage, it does not contain any 

 nitrogen and on some soils some nitrogen is desirable. Fruit 

 may not attain sufficient size without some nitrogen. I 

 want to call your attention to this point. Where you use 

 lime and potash in abundance, having first limed the land 

 and keeping it sweet, you have the essentials that are neces- 

 sary for the production of legumes; lime and put on potash 

 and clover will grow in abundance and I 1»hink you will 

 not have to buy nitrogen except in some cases where the 

 soil is very light. In this particular orchard there seems to 

 be an abundance of nitrogen and clovers thrive in an as- 

 tonishing manner; even last spring when the season was dry. 

 I found great ma^s of Avhite clover so thick that you could 

 not get your foot through them. I know that the combina- 



