108 Food for Plants. 



of the soil, wlu'ie tlu'V are least able to withstand the 

 elTects of drought, which is so often such a serious factor. 



The amount of phosphoric acid and potash to be used 

 depends upon the soil entirely, and can only be approxi- 

 mated, but the fact that they both become fixed in the 

 soil so that there is practically no danger of loss from 

 one season to another, allows us to be more liberal than 

 we otherwise would, and since the best time to apply it is 

 before the seed is sown, we should be liberal in regard to 

 the quantity used for obvious reasons. 



For good, medium clay land of average fertility, there 

 should be drilled into the soil broadcast, at least 400 

 l)ounds per acre of 14 per cent, acid phosphate and 100 

 pounds per acre of sulphate of potash or its equivalent. 

 If the soil is poor, sandy or gravelly or is a peaty or 

 nuick soil, which are known to be usually deficient in 

 these elements, the quantity of each should be doubled. 

 Remember when it comes to fertilizing our crops, the 

 question we should ask ourselves is not '' how" much will 

 it cost me to furnish my crop with the food that it 

 needs?" but " how much will it cost me not to do so?" 



Acid phosphate appears to be the safest and the best 

 form in which to apply phosphoric acid to soils for hay 

 growing generally. 



High-grade sulphate of potash is one 

 Potash salts. of the most satisfacton' of the commer- 



cial potash salts and its use does not 

 tend to deplete the soil of its lime as does the use of muri- 

 ate of potash. The phosphoric acid and potash should be 

 applied to the soil broadcast to the depth of at least three 

 inches from one to two weeks before sowing the seed. 

 Hardwood ashes are excellent when not adulterated, as a 

 source of potash and lime. 



Seeding, 



Twenty quarts per acre of the best recleaned timothy 

 seed obtainable is the right quantity to sow per acre, and 

 this should be sown between August 15th and Septem- 

 ber 15th, the time that timothy naturally reseeds itself. 



