FERTILIZERS IN THE WEST 17 



In other words, 200 pounds of potash produced an in- 

 crease of ninety-seven bushels per acre. The net profit per 

 acre due to potash alone after deducting the cost of the same 

 amounted to $27.96. 



In the light of these figures,, does it seem profitable to use 

 potash or not? Let us cite another example. The crop in 

 this case was cabbage, and the farmer who made the experi- 

 ment was Mr. John de Jong, Louise Bridge, Manitoba, 

 Canada : 



No fertilizer 32,500 pounds 



Nitrogen and Phosphoric Acid 37,500 pounds 



Nitrogen, Phosphoric Acid and Potash 40,000 pounds 



In this case, the net profit due to potash after deducting 

 the cost of the fertilizer was $37.00. In another experiment 

 as much as $47.71 profit was made by using potash in the 

 fertilizer. 



But Canada is not the only country where such striking 

 increases in yields have been obtained with potash. 



A very extended study on the effect of potash as a ferti- 

 lizer on wheat and other cereals, under dry farming condi- 

 tions, has been made by Mr. J. Farges, professor of Agricul- 

 ture at Philippeville, Algiers. He arrived at the following 

 conclusions : 



"It is well-known that potash, the same as nitrogen and 

 phosphoric acid, is indispensible for all plants. But potash is 

 particularly essential for those plants which furnish starch, as 

 for instance, the cereals. In fact, it has been irrefutably 

 demonstrated that starch cannot be produced by sunlight un- 

 less a sufficient quantity of potash be present. . . . Experience 



