COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 6l 



with other fertilizers before sowing or transplanting. If 

 the soil does not contain a large percentage of sand, the 

 loss from leaching is not likely to be serious. (2) As 

 a top dressing around the plants or along the rows. This 

 may be done by hand or when space will permit with a 

 side-delivery fertilizer distributor. (3) In dry weather it 

 is an advantage to open furrows along the rows, distribute 

 the nitrate in the furrows and then close them with a 

 small shovel or hiller; the same purpose may be accom- 

 plished by the use of a drill ; or even by cultivation, after 

 an application on the surface, the fertilizer may be mixed 

 thoroughly with the moist soil. (4) The quickest and 

 easiest way to apply this salt is to sow by hand with a 

 full swing of the arm, as when sowing clover seed, letting 

 the fertilizer fall where it will. Many gardeners who 

 have adopted this labor-saving plan claim that it is safe 

 in fertilizing plants, even those which have tender leaves, 

 provided the foliage is perfectly dry, for every crystal 

 that strikes the leaves naturally rebounds or glances to 

 the ground. The broadcasting method is safe for cab- 

 bage, even if the salt lodges in the axils of the leaves. (5) 

 Nitrate may also be dissolved in water and then applied 

 by means of a hose ; or better, by the Skinner system of 

 irrigation. One ounce of nitrate to one gallon of water 

 is the proper proportion for most purposes. If there is 

 fear of burning the foliage, clear water may be sprayed 

 on the plants after the solution of nitrate has been ap- 

 plied. 



Nitrogen may be supplied in various other forms : Raw 

 or steamed bone may furnish 3 to 6 per cent of nitrogen, 

 although the nitrogen in this form becomes available very 

 slowly ; dried blood, which contains from 6 to 14 per cent 

 of nitrogen, decomposes rapidly ; ground fish, which con- 

 tains 7 to 8 per cent of nitrogen, is used extensively in 

 some trucking regions. Tankage varies greatly in com- 

 position, ranging from 4 to 12 per cent of nitrogen ; cot- 



