General Directions for Nitrate of 



Soda for 



the Use of Nitrate of Soda on Staple Crops. sugar-Beets 



The use of Nitrate of Soda alone is never recommended, 55 

 except at the rate of not more than one hundred pounds to 

 the acre. It may be thus safely and profitably used without 

 other fertilizers. It may be applied at this rate as a .Top- 

 Dressing in the Spring of the year, as soon as vegetation be- 

 gins to turn green; or, in other words, as soon as the crops 

 begin new growth. At this rate very satisfactory results are 

 usually obtained without the use of any other fertilizer, and 

 the Soda residual, after the Nitrogenous Ammoniate Food 

 of this chemical is used up by the plant, has a perceptible 

 effect in sweetening sour land. 



In most of our Grass experiments where Nitrate was 

 used alone at the rate of but One Hundred Pounds per acre, 

 not only was the Aftermath, or Rowen, much improved, but 

 in the subsequent seasons, with nothing applied to the plots, 

 a decidedly marked effect was noticed, even on old meadows. 

 This speaks very well indeed for Nitrate of Soda not leaching 

 out of the soil. The readily soluble elements are the readily 

 available elements. The natural capillarity of soils doubtless 

 is, in most instances, a powerful factor in retaining all readily 

 soluble elements of fertility. 



If this were not so, all the fertility of the world in our 

 humid regions would, in a season or two, run into the ocean, 

 and be permanently lost. 



This is mentioned on account of certain critics having 

 taken the trouble to object to the use of Nitrate on the 

 grounds that it would leach away. A case is yet to be seen 

 where the after-effect of Nitrate is not distinguishable, and, 

 in certain cases, such effects have been most marked. 



When it is desired to use a larger amount than one 

 hundred pounds per acre of Nitrate of Soda as a Top- 

 Dressing, or in any other way, there should be present some 

 form of Phosphatic and Potassic Plant Food, and we recom- 

 mend not less than two hundred and fifty pounds of either 

 Acid Phosphate or fine ground Raw Rock, and two hundred 

 and fifty pounds of some high-grade Potash Salt, preferably 

 the Sulphate, or wood ashes in twice this quantity. A much 

 larger amount than one hundred pounds of Nitrate per acre, 

 when used alone on staple crops, is generally sure to give an 



