Food for On heavy clay soils, spring working is impracticable, 



Pla^ as it results in puddling the top soil. In this case fertilizers 



104 cannot be worked into the soil even for spring planting, 

 and Nitrate of Soda is used in the form of a top-dressing 

 spread broadcast; Phosphoric Acid and Potash are usually 

 applied in the fall for such soils. 



TT X 'p In top-dressing soils, it is very impor- 



j. tant to secure an even application over the 



whole area. As the ordinary application 

 per acre is about 100 pounds, it is difficult to get an even 

 distribution unless the bulk of the material is increased. 

 The best method of doing this is to crush the Nitrate of 

 Soda thoroughly, and mix carefully with about three times 

 its weight of fine dry loam. This mixture should be made 

 immediately before using, though the Nitrate may be 

 crushed at any time if mixed at once with an equal bulk of 

 fine, clean sand and tightly packed in bags. In the latter 

 case, just before using, mix with an equal weight of dry loam. 

 Where top-dressings are made with a machine, it is necessary 

 that the mixture be dry, so that the feeders will not clog. 



Top-Dressing Experiments. 



■0 IX r The official Agricultural Experiment Sta- 



■j^.. . tions have made many experiments to 



■jyj p determine the value of top-dressings of 



Nitrate of Soda, particularly the New 

 Jersey Station. The work of this Station demonstrated the 

 profit value of Nitrate 'top-dressing on various fruits and 

 vegetables. The Rhode Island Experiment Station made (see 

 Bulletin 71) a top-dressing test on grass land and the results 

 also indicated a profitable use of this chemical fertilizer. 



The experiment was made on three plots, all of which 

 were treated with ample quantities of Phosphoric Acid and 

 Potash. One plot received no Nitrate, one plot a top- 

 dressing of 150 pounds per acre, and the remaining plot a 

 top-dressing of 450 pounds of Nitrate per acre. The seed 

 used was one-quarter red clover, one-quarter redtop,and one- 

 half timothy. The yield in barn-cured hay was as follows: 



No Nitrate 1.60 tons. 



150 lbs. Nitrate 2.24 tons. 



450 lbs. Nitrate 3.28 tons. 



