RATIONAL FERTILIZATION. 177 



Fifth. The particular form in which we apply various articles 

 of plant food, as well as the special associations in which they 

 maj' be applied, exerts quite frequently a decided influence, not 

 only on the quantity of the crop, but also on its quality. The 

 observations contained in this and the preceding statement deserve 

 the most serious attention of horticulturists and nurserymen. 



Sixth. The natural resources of the soil in available plant food 

 have proved, as a rule, ultimately insufficient for a remunerative 

 management of the farm, the garden, and the orchard. Older sys- 

 tems of agriculture have failed on account of a scanty snpph^ of 

 manure ; and many failures in our present horticulture will be 

 most likely ascribed at some future daj- to an indifferent system of 

 manuring. 



From the foregoing record of well established conclusions, de- 

 rived from actual observation in the vegetation house, the field, and 

 the garden, we can draw, if we desire, some valuable lessons for 

 our guidance in the practical management of the various branches 

 of agricultural and horticultural industry'. 



A careful consideration of the different points stated cannot fail 

 to impress us with the fact that to manure our lands efficiently 

 means today something more than to incorporate into the soli an 

 exceptionally liberal amount of some incidental refuse matter of 

 ill-defined composition, as barnyard manure, vegetable comix>st, 

 or wood ashes. Both good economy and our preference for a 

 healthy and vigorous condition of our cultivated plants advise a 

 change from an indifferent system of manuring to a more rational 

 one. 



The steadily increasing consumption of agricultural chenatcals 

 and of commercial manurial compounds, for the purpose of sup- 

 plementing our home resources of manurial matter, is a gratifying- 

 endorsement of the good service which systematic, scientific, ex- 

 perimental investigations into the causes of a successful produc- 

 tion of remunerative crops have rendered to practical agricviUure 

 and horticulture. 



Much has been thus far accomplished considering the short 

 period of time since our views regarding these points have thus 

 materially changed ; yet much more work is still needed to secure 

 a reasonably adequate control of the subject under discussion. 

 Agricultural chemists have need to make themselves more familiar 

 with the best current modes of raising and improving fruits, and 

 12 



