Food for O f tne peat, and the growth of the Nitrate ferment will thus 

 Pltnt9 be greatly promoted. 



'94 Soda is, in rare instances, needful as a plant food; if 



needed it would be better economy to use soda ash. In these 

 composts the writer invariably substitutes kainit, or other 

 products of the German mines, for common salt. 



Sawdust, leaves, cornstalks, tan bark, and 

 ow to Save a u kj nc j s O f coarse vegetable materials 

 Humus. are more ra pidly decomposed by the aid of 



caustic alkalies than by any other means. Coarse materials, 

 like cornstalks, trimmings from fruit trees, hedges, grape 

 vines, etc., are rich in plant food, and instead of being burned 

 should be composted with potash and lime in separate heaps. 

 More time must be allowed for the decomposition of coarse 

 materials, and they should always be composted in large 

 heaps and kept moist. 



The process of nitration in the niter-bed, 



the compost-heap, or in the soil is pre- 

 Mitnfication. dsely the same The f ormation O f Nitrates 



is due to the continuous life and development of a micro-or- 

 ganism known as the nitric ferment or nitric bacteria, which 

 lives upon the nitrogenous organic matters, ammonium com- 

 pounds, and other things present in the soil. The nitric fer- 

 ment is a microscopic plant somewhat like the yeast used for 

 leavening bread, and for fermenting malt liquors; and under 

 favorable conditions of temperature and moisture, and in the 

 presence of oxygen is propagated with marvelous rapidity in 

 the soil. One of the results of the life of this minute plant is 

 the formation of Nitrates. 



Nitration is extremely feeble in winter and at tempera- 

 tures below 40 F. almost entirely ceases. It is most active 

 at about 98 F. to 99 F., and is more rapid in the dark than 

 in bright sunlight. At temperatures above iooF. the 

 formation of Nitrates rapidly decreases and at i3iF. en- 

 tirely ceases. As we have just stated, it has been noticed that 

 the nitric ferment thrives best in the dark, and, hence, one 

 good reason for making compost beds under sheds or in shel- 

 tered situations. When so made the conditions for nitrifica- 

 tion are more favorable and the beds are protected from the 

 leaching action of storms. 



To ensure rapid nitrification all the food elements re- 

 quired by the nitric ferment must be present. The ash in- 



