a strong, deep soil, rich in humus, with an excessive quantity ^^^'^ 'o*" 

 of organic matter and acid, it is deficient in lime. On muck ^^^°^ 

 and acid soils basic slag if very finely ground seems to give 39 

 better results with most crops than acid phosphate. This 

 is due to the fact that the basic slag contains from 40 to 50 

 per cent, of lime, which is necessary to neutralize the excess 

 of acids present which are detrimental to plant growth. 



If the soil is a medium heavy clay upland and not acid 

 it is best to use the acid phosphate which contains, besides 

 the phosphoric acid, about 50 per cent, of calcium sulphate 

 (gypsum). This unlocks the natural potash in the soil. 



7 he quantity of either to apply on ordinary soils is 1,000 

 pounds per acre very early in the spring, so that in fitting the 

 ground it will become very thoroughly incorporated with the 

 soil before the onion seed is sown. 



The following table gives the actual field results of six 

 years' experiments with fertilizers and seven years with 

 manures at the rate of 30 tons per acre: 



Manure. Chemicals. 



Ions per acre, average 8.90 14.02 



Market vfl/u^.^^r /on, average 5 18. 16 ^20.52 



The crop grown with chemical fertilizers was 5.12 tons 

 greater per acre, or a gain over the stable manure of nearly 

 58 per cent.; while the Nitrate crop averaged ^2.36 greater 

 market value per ton, an advance over the manure-grown 

 crop of 13 per cent. 



Stable Manure and Artificial Fertilizer 

 Upon Fruit Trees. 



In this country the manuring or fertilizing of fruit 

 plantations is very commonly neglected, but in Europe 

 fruit trees are as regularly treated with plant food as staple 

 crops. According to the investigations of Professor Barth- 

 Colmar and Dr. Steglich, Dresden, the wood, foliage and 

 fruit of apple, pear, cherry and bush fruits consume yearly 

 per square yard of surface shaded by the tree or bush, 219 

 grains of Nitrogen, 65 grains of phosphoric acid, and 284 



