THE SOIL 79 



sulphate of ammonia, a material that costs 

 more than nitrate but, being stronger in nitro- 

 gen, goes farther in actual use. Whether its 

 beneficial action is a direct influence on the 

 plant or whether it (and nitrate) get in their 

 work by producing more grass mulch, will be 

 hard to say. It seems to be true, however, that 

 when these nitrogenous fertilizers are used on 

 cultivated orchards no benefit can be noticed. 



We have gone a long way in our experiment- 

 ing and observing and we have found out a few 

 things about the soil more quickly than if we 

 had never started any experiments but had 

 simply left the whole business to nature. When 

 we come right down to brass tacks, however, we 

 really do not know much about the use of fer- 

 tilizers in orchards. What we think is wisdom 

 to-day may be proved to be folly to-morrow and 

 the old earth remains almost as much of a mys- 

 tery as it ever was. But with Daniel's " other 

 arts ' ' following after, we may expect some day 

 to know what makes an apple red, and whether 

 nitrate of soda is a necessity or a humbug. 



