128 Food foti Pt.ants, 



(Ired pounds per aero, this relatively small amount could 

 liave no material influence whatever in increasing the 

 alkali content of soils. The continued use of Nitrate 

 under rational methods of fertilizing, would not add 

 to, but rather diminish the quantity of alkali in the 

 soil. The associated gypsum and acid phosphate thus 

 used would tend to loosen heavy clay soils which need 

 improvement in texture and the acid residues from these 

 materials would likewise benefit alkaline soils. 



In this connection, it is important to observe that care 

 must be exercised, in soils containing black alkali, to 

 avoid materially increasing the content of carbonate or 

 bi-carbonate of lime, since this would help promote the 

 destruction of humus. It is, therefore, suggested for 

 these particular soils, that the large and constant use of 

 lime be avoided. AVhen lime is needed, have your soil 

 examined by an expert, and do not put on any more lime 

 in any form than advised for your particular case. In 

 other words, take good care to preserve your humus. 

 Do not destroy it by excessive liming on any account. 

 Neither wetness nor stickiness will result from the 

 rational use of Chilean Nitrate. The productivity of all 

 soils may be increased by the right use of it. 



All arid soils lack nitrogen on account of having but 

 little natural humus in them, hence the application of 

 Chilean Nitrate should give profitable crop increases. 



What Burbank Says: 



''After testing a great variety of fertihzers on my 

 orchard and experimental grounds, I find that the 

 Nitrate of Soda and Tliomas slag phos])hate have given 

 the best results at the least expense, and I shall not look 

 further at present, as my trees, bullis, plants, flowers and 

 fruits have been, by the use of about 150 pounds each 

 per acre, nearly doubled in size and beauty in ahnost 

 every instance. The above-named fertilizers have more 

 tlian doubled the product of my soil at a very small out- 

 lay per acre. 



