256 FARM CROPS 



materials are best for the grass crops that follow. 

 Nitrate of soda as a source of nitrogen is excellent, 

 but the best time for adding it is in the spring when 

 vigorous growth will be secured in case the crop 

 has gone through the winter poorly. When 

 nitrate of soda is used in the fall, it is usually mixed 



WHEAT HEADER 



In some wheat districts the heads only are clipped off. 

 These heads are carried by means of an elevator attached to 

 the machine to the header boxes or wagons that travel along 

 with the machine. When one wagon box is filled another re- 

 places it. The detached heads are hauled to the storage place 

 and stacked until threshing time. By using the header only a 

 small part of the straw needs to be handled. 



with other fertilizing materials. Muriate of potash 

 is perhaps the cheapest source of potassium. 



Whether to use factory mixed goods or complete 

 fertilizers will depend upon circumstances. Some 

 farmers have already tested their lands and know 

 whether a complete fertilizer is needed or not. If 

 wheat follows cowpeas or clover or any of the 

 legumes, then it is certainly unnecessary to go to 

 the expense of buying costly nitrogen when there 

 is in all likelihood an abundance in the soil already. 

 Then, too, some wheat soils are deficient in phos- 

 phorus, but possess an abundance of potassium. 

 There is no need in this case of adding the potas- 

 sium. If other lands are deficient in potassium but 



