Plants can take up Nitrogen only in the form of ^''ood for 

 Nitrates — that is, in combination with alkaHne base, such ^^^ 

 as Hme or sodium. 223 



The Nitrogen contained in all fertilizers, with the 

 exception of Nitrate of Soda, must first be nitrified — that 

 is, converted into Nitrate — before the plant can take it up. 

 This nitrification is always attended with greater or less 

 loss of Nitrogen. 



A sufiiciency of lime in the soil hastens nitrification, 

 while a scarcity of lime retards it. Nitrate of Soda is the 

 only nitrogenous fertilizer that will do its work perfectly 

 without lime, because it already contains Nitrogen in a 

 form that is capable of absorption by plants. 



Leguminous plants assimilate free Nitrogen from the 

 air through the medium of the micro-organisms inhabiting 

 the nodules found in their roots. Leguminous plants, in 

 the early stages of their growth, avail themgelves ot the 

 Nitrates in the soil. Nitrate of Soda has been very profit- 

 ably used in the cultivation of Lucern, or "Alfalfa," etc. 



Crops that have suffered from wintering, from insects, 

 etc., can, in most cases, be considerably improved by top- 

 dressing with Nitrate of Soda. 



When the soil is very poor in potash, the soda contained 

 in Nitra'e of Soda will, to a certain extent, serve as a sub- 

 stitute for potash. It is not, however, a perfect substitute. • 

 Poverty in potash can be fully made good only by applying 

 a sufficient quantity of a potash fertilizer. 



Nitrate of Soda is easily soluble, and it distributes itself 

 immediately through the soil. 



*to 



Distribution of Nitrogen in the Grain and Straw of the 



Principal Cereals. 

 Nitrogen per Two and One-Half Acres. 



GRAIN. 



Oats, Barley, Wheat, Rye, 



82.42 lbs. 86.61 lbs. 81.10 lbs. 67.44 lbs. 



Rape Seed, Peas, Vetches, Inroad Beans, 



176.32 lbs. 117-03 lbs. 143-9^ lbs- 181. 16 lbs. 



STRAW. 



Oats, Barley, Wheat, Rye, 



26.4 lbs. 26.4 lbs. 3306 lbs. -9-31 'bs. 



Rape Seed, Peas, Vetches, Broad Beans, 



29.75 lbs. 118.35 lbs. 112.40 lbs. 79.34 lbs. 



