288 EGYPTIAN AGJRIC&LTUMK 



the fact that in it the nitrogen is in a form of combination 

 capable of direct absorption into the plant, makes it an 

 exceedingly active manure ; in other words it is a manure 

 giving an almost immediate return for its application. Its 

 inability to form insoluble compounds with any of the 

 constituents of soil renders it liable to be washed out of 

 land by heavy rain or flooding, and this has to be borne 

 in mind in its application. On the other hand, as it is not 

 "fixed," as the expression is, it distributes itself rapidly 

 throughout the soil layer, and is found to encourage the 

 development of deep and well-spread roots. This is highly 

 desirable as it not only increases the feeding area of the 

 crop but makes it less likely to suffer from want of water 

 on the drying up of the surface soil. 



To avoid the risk of loss by drainage nitrate is usually 

 applied as "top-dressing" and in comparatively small 

 doses, and if a heavy application is wanted this is prefer- 

 ably put on in several small dressings rather than in a 

 single large one. 



To get the full value out of an application of nitrate 

 the land must be well provided with phosphate and 

 potash. 



The sale is a useful manure for all crops except the 

 leguminous group, which, being able to draw its nitrogen 

 from the air, is not greatly benefited by the addition of 

 nitrogenous manures. 



The amount of nitrate which should be applied to land 

 will depend upon the particular case in question but any- 

 thing from one hundred to two hundred kilogs. per feddan 

 may be <riven. 



