"What shall I use?" second, "How much shall I use per Food for 

 acre?" arid third, "When and how shall it be applied?" ^^^°^^ ' 

 Experiments that have been conducted with the use of Nitrate ^35 

 of Soda answer all of these questions in a definite and 

 specific way. 



In the case of hay, from timothy and other 

 grasses, the experiments that have been 

 conducted answer the first question — "What shall I use" — 

 as follows: Use Nitrate of Soda, because it is a food element 

 that is especially needed; it is soluble in water and can be 

 immediately taken up by the plants and supplies them with 

 that which they need at the time they need it — it can be used 

 by them early in the spring before other forms of applied 

 Nitrogen are usable and before other soil supplies are avail- 

 able. The results of experiments conducted through a 

 period of nine years, and in different sections of the State, 

 show that upon soils which will produce crops ranging from 

 one to three tons per acre, a gain in yield of from 9 to 54 per 

 cent., or an average increase of 32.7 per cent., may be ex- 

 pected from the use of from 100 to 150 pounds per acre, 

 which would show an average gain in yield of 654 pounds per 

 acre; based on the average yield of this section ot the country 

 of 1.25 tons per acre, the gain would be 820 pounds. This 

 increase, at an average price of $12 per ton, would mean 

 about $5 per acre, or $2 more than the cost of the material. 

 A very satisfactory profit, when it is remembered that it is 

 obtained at the same cost of labor and of capital invested 

 in land. 



The second question, as to how much __ __ , 



, „ , 1- 1 • 1 1 How Much 



snail be applied, experience teaches that on „, ,, , 



1 M • 1 r 1 • • Shall be 



good soils, in a good state or cultivation, 150 . .. , 



pounds per acre would be regarded as the 

 most useful amount, though on poor soils, 100 pounds would 

 be better, and on richer soils, as high as 200 or 250 pounds 

 per acre may be used with advantage. The reason why a 

 smaller amount is recommended on poor soils is because on 

 such soils there is liable to be a deficiency of the mineral ele- 

 ments, and inasmuch as the Nitrate is not a food complete in 

 itself, but an element of food, the plant would be unable to 

 utilize it to the best advantage in the absence of the necessary 

 minerals. Where the soils are good, or under the intensive 

 plan, larger amounts may be used, as under this system all 



