HOMOEOPATHY IN AGRICULTURE. 205 



it would show marked results. On an adjoining acre I have 

 applied one hundred pounds of animal dust (blood or meat) , 

 containing fifteen pounds of nitrogen, with no satisfactory 

 results. The same quantity of nitrogen is present in each 

 case, but in one it is present as nitric acid, and immediately 

 goes to the nourishment of the crop, and in the other it is 

 present in organic matter, and must undergo a process of 

 oxidation and decay, and be converted into nitric acid before 

 it becomes plant food. While it is undergoing that process 

 it is either subject to loss on the surface, or the process is so 

 gradual that no apparent results are produced, going to show 

 that for surface dressing that form of nitrogen which is im- 

 mediately available is much better than one which requires 

 time to develop, and hence a surface dressing for grass 

 should be composed almost entirely of chemicals. 



The market gardeners have found that sulphate of ammo- 

 nia is a specific for spinach, which, applied in March or April, 

 and being immediately available, forces the crop to early 

 maturity, and gives a dark green leaf, inducing the rapid 

 and healthy formation of chlorophyll. Fish will not answer, 

 blood does not work, and even nitrate of soda does not seem 

 so efficient on this crop as sulphate of ammonia. On the other 

 hand, nitrate of soda seems to be a specific for asparagus, and 

 large quantities are being used in the fertilizers for this crop. 

 It is applied in the spring, and seems to induce early and 

 abundant cuttings, which are tender and juicy. Judge 

 French of Concord, Mass., considered nitrate of soda, if not a 

 specific, certainly an excellent fertilizer for asparagus, and he 

 always raised a good crop. Dr. F. Y. Noyes of Billerica, 

 Mass., has also found that nitrate of soda was especially 

 adapted to asparagus. In fact, any crop which produces a 

 large amount of green succulent growth seems to be bene- 

 fited Ijy the application of ammonia salts, and asparagus 

 being a native of saline shores, is no doubt benefited by the 

 soda as well as the nitric acid. 



Perhaps the most marked illustration in the way of special 

 feeding is that of the turnip. It was discovered long ago in 

 England that phosphoric acid, or soluble phosphate of lime, 

 was a specific for this crop. An English writer, comment- 

 ing upon this subject, says : — 



