Feeding the Land 201 



posit heavily of fertilizers we need not worry 

 about cropping. 



We must keep the true balance in our soil- 

 account by applying potash, phosphoric acid, and 

 nitrogen. So long as the soil is kept rich in these 

 elements, together with humus, — ever, ever 

 humus, — it remains practically inexhaustible. 

 When we clear land and bum timber, stump, and 

 brush, and scatter the ashes over the soil, we return 

 potash in the ashes, and ashes, as the farmer says, 

 last a long time in the groimd. But wood-ashes, 

 unleached, from hard wood, are scarce. We can 

 supply potash by using commercial fertilizers, — as 

 muriate or sulphate of potash, a plant-food readily 

 becoming soluble in the soil. The amoimt to be 

 applied depends upon the need of the soil. A mod- 

 erate quantity every year is better than a heavy 

 application infrequently, — say once in three years. 

 Three hundred pounds of the muriate (the sul- 

 phate is stronger) to the acre is ample unless you 

 wish to force the plant and, possibly, to waste 

 your fertilizer. As it is insoluble in the air, it can 

 be applied in winter; drawing to field on the sled 

 and scattering about on the snow. It may well be 

 remembered that the roots of tree or vine extend 

 more than a mere foot from the trunk and that 

 the entire area between rows may wisely be scat- 

 tered over with the fertilizer. Moreover there is 

 danger of burning the stock if strong commercial 

 fertilizers are heaped around it. 



Phosphoric acid may be had commercially in 



