tionate gain in crop, may result in a large profit, because ^°^^ ^'^^ 



the cost of the Nitrogen, though considerable, is relatively a ^" ^ 



small item when compared with the increased value of the "9 

 crop obtained from its use. 



It is shown in the experiments conducted with Nitrate of 

 Soda, on different crops, that in the case of grain and forage 

 crops, which utilized the Nitrate quite as completely as the 

 market garden crops, the increased value of crop, due to 

 Nitrate, does not in any case exceed ^14.00 per acre, or a 

 money return at the rate of ^8.50 per 100 pounds of Nitrate 

 used, while in the case of the market garden crops the value 

 of the increased yield reaches, in the case of one crop, the 

 high figure of over ^263 per acre, or at the rate of about $66 

 per 100 pounds of Nitrate. The Nitrate applied was not 

 better in the one case than in the other, but in the case of the 

 bulky crops the plant required a larger amount of Nitrogen 

 to make a unit of crop than in the case of the market garden 

 group; besides, it is a crop of low market value — dry hay will 

 bring, say, $12 per ton, and a good yield is two tons per acre; 

 the market garden group of crops shows a high market value 

 — succulent vegetables will bring as much per ton and the 

 yield will be five to ten times as great. These relations of 

 cost of material applied to value of crop are exceedingly 

 important, and should be carefully looked into before plan- 

 ning for the purchase of materials. 



In the next place, the form of Nitrogen ^ ^ . ^ 



1 . . ^ ' fe Certain Crops 



used IS very important. Many crops, as, _ . ,, 



f 1 I r I • 3.re iirSpeciaiiy 



lor example, those grown for early spring _ fif h h 



forage, or for hay or grain, as rye, wheat, NitmteNitrogen. 

 timothy, orchard and other grasses, are 

 unable to obtain the Nitrogen from soil sources early enough 

 to permit of a rapid and maximum development; the agen- 

 cies which promote the activities which cause a change of 

 organic forms of Nitrogen into Nitrates are dormant, hence 

 an application of Nitrogen in a completely soluble and imme- 

 diately available form supplies the plant with what it needs 

 at-the time of its greatest need, and great gains in yield are 

 made. In the culture of early market garden crops, too, or 

 such as are improved in quality, and thus increased in value, 

 by virtue of quickness of growth, the Nitrate is of the greatest 

 service. Such crops as tomatoes, cabbage, turnips, beet and 

 others, in order to be highly profitable, must be grown and 



