S TME WAY TO USE POTASH. 



air sufficient for their wants; hence, they should be supplied with 

 those other ingredients which are necessary to plant-growth. This 

 explains why potash has proven most useful when applied to all kinds 

 of legumes. It stimulates and increases their power to obtain nitro- 

 gen, which latter is the most expensive material the farmer has to 

 buy, and which is returned into the soil at a very slight cost when 

 leguminous plants are plowed under. This is called ''green manuring." 



4. HOW GREEN MANURING BRINGS PROFIT. 



The heavy expense which heretofore attended the use of nitro- 

 genous fertilizers can be decreased to a large extent by green manur- 

 ing. By raising the leguminous crops in rotation, the roots, leaves 

 and stalks decay in the soil and furnish a large quantity of free nitro- 

 gen for succeeding crops. Besides, humus is added to the soil, thus 

 improving its chemical and physical condition. Green manuring is 

 now regarded as the best and cheapest method of restoring fertility 

 to worn-out soils. But leguminous crops, such as clover, beans, peas 

 or vetches, can only do their best if they are well fertilized with 

 potash and phosphoric acid. 



6. LIME IS NECESSARY UPON SOME SOILS AND FOR SOME 

 PLANTS. 



There is usually lime in sufficient quantity in most soils for the re- 

 quirements of plant-food only, but sometimes the farmer must 

 supply lime for the purpose of improving the mechanical condition of 

 the soil, especially to such soils as are too stiff, and to sandy soils. 

 Soils of a peaty nature are also much improved by the use of lime. 

 Lime is also the best means of sweetening sour soils and thus making 

 them productive. 



6. APPLY POTASH SALTS EARLY AND AVOID TOP-DRESSING. 



The time and method of using potash are important. In many 

 cases positive damage is done by applying fertilizers too late in the 

 season. The full effect of the potash and also of phosphoric acid is 

 obtained only when these mineral fertilizers are applied some time 

 previous to planting, or sowing of the crop. The farmer should not 

 make the mistake of applying potash salts as a top-dressing. The 

 proper way is to plow them under, so that the food will be readily taken 

 up by the tiny rootlets of the growing plants. 



