130 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



tion. The farmer can also fortify this application in special 

 cases by the use of quickly available nitrogen at the time of 

 its greatest need. 



For example, the wheat and grass crops more than any 

 other general crops respond favorably and profitably to 

 top-dressings of nitrate of soda in spring. Hence, with an 

 abundance of minerals to stimulate the early growth of the 

 plant, a top-dressing of nitrate may be made to these crops, 

 with a reasonable assurance that only normal development 

 will take place." 



Dr. Paul Wagner, the eminent European experimenter, 

 strongly advises this method, and maintains that with the 

 conditions properly understood the farmer is able to diag- 

 nose his field and to be able to apply the nitrate so as to 

 guarantee the yield that will be obtained from a given amount 

 of nitrate. That is, his experiments have shown that prac- 

 tically 400 pounds of grain will be obtained from every 

 100 pounds of nitrate thus applied. The conditions are: 

 (1) that the soil shall be abundantly supplied with minerals 

 and shall be in good condition; (2) that the average yield 

 obtained under present treatment shall be known; (3) the 

 yield possible, or that fixed by the climate, season and 

 variety. 



For example, if the average yield of wheat is 15 bushels 

 per acre, and the possible yield 28 bushels, 200 pounds of 

 nitrate of soda will provide for and secure the increase, and 

 so on for the different grain crops. His experiments also 

 enable him to suggest suitable amounts for other crops. It 

 is quite possible that these figures should be modified for 

 conditions here, owing to the difi^erences in climate, season 

 of growth, rainfall, etc., although there is no doubt of the 

 soundness of the theory and its practicability for our condi- 

 tions. At any rate, this method provides for an economical 

 use of the fertilizer constituents, the constant building up 

 of the soil and the easy and gradual development of the 

 " intensive " from the " extensive " system, while at the same 

 time harvesting profitable crops. 



In special lines of farming as, for example, the continuous 

 growing of grass, much more depends upon the preparation 



