22 FERTILISERS AS AN AID TO 



treatment with sulphuric acid, which fixes the 

 nitrogen and renders water-soluble a considerable 

 portion of the otherwise more slowly available 

 bone phosphates. Steamed or boiled bone flour 

 contains much less nitrogen, but considerably 

 more phosphates than ordinary bone meal, and 

 in a finer state of division. 



On light, sandy soils and gravels the readily 

 available neutral bone phosphates may be relied 

 upon to give the best results, and should always 

 form part of a complete manure for crops 

 thereon, if the land has not been " limed " 

 within recent years. 



Potash and Phosphate 



Most farmers will be familiar with the recom- 

 mendations often made as to the mixing of 

 phosphates and potash salts for certain crops 

 and soils, coupled with the warning that the 

 mixture should be distributed as soon as pos- 

 sible after being made, as otherwise it will be 

 in an objectionable or unsowable condition. A 

 new fertiliser has recently been placed upon the 

 market, known as Potassic Superphosphate, 

 which presents potash and phosphates combined 

 in the form of a dry powder, and entirely avoids 

 these objections. It should always contain at 

 least 23 per cent, of water-soluble phosphate 

 with 4 per cent, of potash. Owing to the 

 intimate combination of the potash and soluble 

 phosphate in this fertiliser, its beneficial effects 

 are more rapid and effective than when these 



