FERTIMZKKS. 



15 



immediately. This can be avoided by adding a quantity of dry sand, sawdust, peat, 

 or other material. 



MISCELLANEOUS FERTILIZER MATERIALS. 



Gypsum. Gypsum, land-plaster, or sulphate of calcium acts more as a soil- 

 stimulant than a direct fertilizer. Its value from an agricultural standpoint is 

 similar in some respects to lime, in that it improves the mechanical condition of 

 clay soils and tends to make the potash content of soils more available. Gypsum 

 will not correct soil-acidity and therefore cannot be used to take the place of lime 

 for such a purpose. It does not hasten the decay of vegetable matter in soils to the 

 same extent as lime. The value of gypsum to lessen the toxic properties of black 

 alkali in soils has long been recognized. 



Sulphur. That gypsum, calcium sulphate, is of value as a plant-food owing to 

 its sulphur content has long been a debated question. The consensus of opinions 

 appears to be that most soils contain enough sulphur as a plant-food. In humid 

 districts the amount of sulphur added to the soil dissolved in the rain-water is in 

 itself sufficient. It is probable, however, that indirectly sulphur has a beneficial 

 effect when applied to some crops. The most apparent results from sulphur have 

 been secured when it is applied to alfalfa and clover. Flowers of sulphur are used, 

 but the sulphur has to be converted in the soil into a sulphate form before it is of 

 value to the crop. For this reason an application in the fall is preferable to a spring 

 application. Gypsum .or calcium sulphate may be applied in the spring to better 

 advantage. 



Common Salt. Common salt, or sodium chloride, has been used for many years 

 in the older countries. It supplies no essential ingredient of plant-growth. The 

 value as a fertilizer is probably due to its action in the soil of setting free more 

 important constituents. 



FERTILIZER FORMULAE FOR CROPS. 



Nitrogen. ^J^gg. Potash. 



Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. 



Wheat 4 7 3 



Barley 5 7 3 



Rye 4 6 9 



Oats 4 5 9 



Buckwheat 4 7 9 



Corn 3 7 6 



Tobacco 5 5 8 



Potatoes 5 6. 8 



Clovers and legumes ... 1 7 9 



Rape 3 4 4 



Roots 5 5 7 



Asparagus and rhubarb. .46 7 



Beans and peas 1 7 8 



Lettuce 5 5 8 



Cabbage and Cauliflower 568 



Cucumbers 5 5 7 



Celery 5 5 9 



Tomatoes 5 5 7 



Onions 5 5 10 



Sweet corn 4 8 10 



Strawberries 3 9 12 



Fruit-trees 2 8 11 



Blackberries 2 5 8 



Raspberries 3 6 9 



Loganberries 3 6 9 



Lb. to Acre. 



300 to 



250 to 



300 to 



300 to 



400 to 



500 to 1,000 

 1,000 to 2,000 



500 to 1,500 



400 to 800 



300 to 



400 to 



400 to 



400 to 



900 to 1,500 



800 to 2,000 



500 to 1,500 

 1,100 to 1,500 



500 to 1,000 



500 to 1,000 



500 to 1,000 



500 to 800 



400 to 



500 to 



500 to 



500 to 



600 

 600 

 600 

 800 

 800 



600 

 800 

 800 

 800 



700 

 800 

 800 

 800 



