The advantage from the Nitrate showed strikingly in the 

 production of a rapid and luxurious early growth while 

 moisture was still available. This supply of readily soluble 

 food comes just when it is most needed, since the natural 

 change of unavailable forms of Nitroo;en in the soil to the 

 soluble Nitrates proceeds very slowly during the cool, moist 



Food for 

 Plants 



73 



Same Rock Shattered by the Explosion of Dynamite. 



weather of spring. The full ration of Nitrogen, 450 pounds 

 of Nitrate, more than doubled the yield of hay over that pro- 

 duced on the no-Nitrate plat in 1900 and in the next two 

 years it nearly tripled the yield. The average increase over 

 the 150 pound plat was one and three-tenths tons and 

 over the plat without Nitrogen was two and five-eighths tons. 



Effect on Quality of Hay. 



Almost as marked, and certainly more 

 surprising and unexpected, was the effect 

 of the Nitrate upon the quality of the hay 

 produced. 



The hay from the plats during the first 

 season was of such diverse character that different ton values 



How Nitrate 

 Improves the 

 Quality of the 

 Hay. 



