104 AGRICULTURE. 



so frequent, light applications are better than 

 heavy ones at long intervals.* 



It would be well to occasionally add to every 

 ton of compost applied to the soil from fifty to 

 one hundred pounds of superphosphate, and 

 twenty-five to fifty pounds of sulphate of potash 

 (high grade), or sufficient wood ashes to supply 

 the same amount of potash (see Table I.). 



For potted plants, or in soil used for vegetables 

 or flowers, the water leached from stable com- 

 post and diluted may be used (see page 256) in 

 watering the plants to supply the fertilizer. 



One ton of stable compost in good condition 

 contains about ten pounds of nitrogen, five 

 pounds of phosphoric acid, and ten pounds of 

 potassium. 



^.REFERENCES. 



"The Fertility of the Land." Roberts. 1900. 10. 



"Fertilizers." Voorhees. 1900. 10. 



"Phosphates." Bulletin 94, Maryland Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station. 



" Field Experiments with Nitrate of Soda." Bulletin 164, New 

 Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. 



" System of Farm Management." Year-book, 1901. 



"Relation of Nutrition to the Health of Plants." Year-book, 

 1901. 



* " We may take it as a general rule that plants with leathery 

 leaves, with 'hard and narrow leaves, and with hard wood, re- 

 quire more dilute solutions than those with large, soft, and ex- 

 panded leaves. During the period of leaf formation all plants 

 can do with the greatest amount of nutritive matter." Year- 

 book, 1901, p. 172. 



