FERTILIZERS. « 



annaallT by decomposing particles of soil — unlocking the sand grains, as it 

 were, to get their treasures. On some soils nitrogen perhaps would not be 

 called for at first, and on others, rarer still, phosphoric acid might for a 

 time be found sufficient in the soil. 



Cereal crops are especially benefited by nitrogen and nitrogenous man- 

 ures. Usually from forty to eighty pounds per acre are required for full 

 crops or largest crops. Clover ie die best medium to use in charging soils 

 with nitrogen. It is a nitrogen trap that is easily set and sure to catch. 

 Clover may be specially fertilized with plaster. Potash is of little value in 

 cereal growing, and phosphoric a?id not greatly called for. In ccmiection 

 with nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash are both useful in small 

 quantities. 



For Indian com phosphoric acid is perhaps the best special fertilizing 

 element. Land plaster often does good service. On some soils potash also 

 proves valuable. 



Grass requires all the elements of plant food. Well-rotted manure is 

 : erhaps the best special manure for it. Bone-dust comes next. Either o£ 

 Jicse can be used at seeding, or afterward as top dressing. Clover requires 

 uitrogen and phosphoric acid in small quantities. Potash and lime are its 

 moet valuable manures. Turnips require nitrogen and phosphoric acid, the 

 latter ia soluble form. Superphosphates are specials for the turnip crop, 

 ^lan^cb want more nitrogen and less phosphoric acid than turnips. Potatoes 

 are similar to turnips in their likes, and on most soils they need a supply of 

 ix)tash furaished. There is usually potash enough in our common barnyard 

 manure for potatoes. 



One himdred potmds of good bone, thirty-five pounds sulphtiric acid, and 

 thirteen pounds of water, mixed in a wooden vat or tub, will make one 

 hundred and forty-eight pounds superphosphate dry. In mixing, however, 

 much more water will be found necessary to possibly properly mix the mass, 

 and when properly mixed, if after standing a day or two it is too damp, may 

 be dried by adding ground plaster, or other material. The bone-diust should 

 be wet with the water first, then the acid added, a little at a time; by so 

 doing the vessel in which the mixture is made is less acted upon, and the 

 incorporation with and action upon the bone is better. Stir with a wooden 

 ho« or mixer. Never attempt to reduce whole bones with the sulphuric 

 acid. 



The advantage of reducing bones or rock phosphate with sulphuric acid 

 is to render the solubility in water the greater when appUed to the soils. 

 Timing soils really adds no plant food to the soil, but has a tendency to 

 levelop it in the soil by the caustic, dissolving, breaking-down eflfect that 

 the action of the lime has upon the particles of the soil, unlocking them, 

 making them give up their hidden stores of plant food. It not only acts 

 upon the mineral constituents in the soil, but upon the vegetable constituent 

 parts. 



Variation In Manures. — The subject of manures is of the highest im- 

 portance in practical farming, for it is the basis of every effort at improve- 

 ment. It is much better understood than formerly, thanks to the efibrt of 

 agricultural scientists, combined with the experiments of practical workers. 

 There are, however, some points which, though fully established, are too 

 often overlooked. One of the most important of these is that bulk counts 

 for Uttle in fertilization as compared with quahtj-. The introduction of 

 guano and similar concentrated fertilizers, as superphosphate, nitrates of 



