148 SOILS AND FERTILIZERS 



blood may be applied as a top dressing on grass land, 

 and it is also an excellent form of fertilizer for many 

 garden crops ; but it should not be placed in direct con- 

 tact with seeds, as it will cause rotting, nor should it be 

 used in too large amounts. Three hundred pounds per 

 acre is as much as should be applied at one time. When 

 too much is used losses of nitrogen may occur by leach- 

 ing and by denitrification. It is best applied directly to 

 the soil as a top dressing in the case of grass, or near 

 the seeds of garden crops, and not mixed with unslaked 

 lime or wood ashes, but each should be used separately. 

 As all plants take up their nitrogen in the early stages 

 of growth, nitrogenous fertilizers as blood should be ap- 

 plied before seeding or soon after. An application of 

 dried blood to partially matured garden crops will cause 

 a prolonged growth and very late maturity. 



Storer gives the following directions for preserving 

 any dried blood produced upon farms. 22 "The blood 

 is thoroughly mixed in a shallow box with 4 or 5 times 

 its weight of slaked lime. The mixture is covered with 

 a thin layer of lime and left to dry out. It will keep if 

 stored in a cool place, and may be applied directly to 

 the land or added to a compost heap." 



The price per pound of nitrogen in the form of dried 

 blood can be determined from the cost and the analysis 

 of the material. A sample containing 9 per cent of nitro- 

 gen and selling for $28 per ton is equivalent to 15.55 

 cents per pound for the nitrogen (2000x0.09=180. 

 o-^ 1 80= 15.55 cents). 



