MANURES. 23 



the home sources of manure have been exhausted, and then 

 they should be used to supplement rather than replace farm 

 manures. They are generally expensive, and results from 

 their use here have not been as satisfactory as in the eastern 

 states. Only the more common kinds to be met with here, have 

 been mentioned. 



Those who use commercial fertilizers of the better kinds 

 for the first time are very likely to use too much and seriously 

 injure the crop to which it is applied. It is much better to use 

 too little than too much and to experiment along this line in 

 a small and inexpensive way to begin with. 



Applications of Manures.— The proportion of the various 

 plant foods used by different crops varies considerably, some 

 using a larger amount of one element and some of another. 

 Their visible effects when in excess are also quite different. 

 Garden plants that are grown especially for their foliage use 

 large quantities of nitrogen and require it in order to be per- 

 fectly healthy, and seed producing plants use large quantities 

 of phosphoric acid and potash. Where nitrogen in a soluble 

 form is very abundant so as to be in excess in the soil, it will 

 be found that the plants growing on it are noted for their 

 dark green color and rank leaf and stem growth and for late 

 maturity of fruit and seed. In the case of small grain, it may 

 result in such a weak, soft, succulent growth that the stems can- 

 not support themselves, and they become "lodged," and such 

 growth may be gained without an increase in the yield of grain. 

 In the case of lawns, a soft thick sod is made; in the case of 

 spinach, cabbage and other leaf crops, vigorous, large plants 

 result; while tree and bush fruits under such conditions make 

 a soft late-maturing growth that easily winter kills. 



On the contrary when soluble potash and phosphoric acid 

 are in excess in the soil, the plants will have a tendency to 

 produce a large amount of seed and fruit in proportion to 

 straw or wood and to mature early. This is a desirable condi- 

 tion for heaviest grain and seed crops. In the case of bush 

 and tree fruits, it conduces to fruitfulness, early maturity of 

 wood, and hardiness. These qualities will be most evident if 

 the nitrogen is under a normal quantity in the soil. 



It must not be understood from this that any of these 

 elements are hurtful, for they are all absolutely necessary in 



