372 BOAUD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The Use of Fertilizers on Grass Lands. 



Top-dressing grass lands was discussed at some length in 

 the first })a})er on this subject. The reasons were therein 

 given why it is believed that on most farms manures should 

 generally be used on the tilled fields. It was pointed out 

 that in the decay of manures on the surface there is some 

 risk of loss of their most valuable constituent, — nitrogen. 

 It is equally true that in the decay of organic fertilizers, 

 such as dried blood, dry ground fish or tankage on the sur- 

 face there is danger of similar loss through the escape of 

 ammonia into the air. 



Nitrate of Soda for Mowings. — It seems to be the almost 

 universal experience that nitrate of soda is the most valuable 

 fertilizer which can be used for the purpose of increasing the 

 growth of the grasses proper. Grasses make most of their 

 growth in the early part of the season, and at a time when 

 the conditions are not very favorable for the conversion of 

 the relatively unavailable constituents of such fertilizers as 

 sulfate of ammonia and the organic fertilizers which have 

 just been mentioned into compounds suitable for plant food. 

 Nitrate of soda, as is now generally known, is in condition 

 to feed the crop just as soon as it is brought into solution, 

 and relatively light rains will dissolve it and carry it into the 

 soil. Nitrate of soda is, however, so soluble that there is 

 (juite a possibility that under some conditions it may be 

 Avashed through the soil and lost before the crop can utilize 

 it. This danger is uitdoubtedly less in the case of the grass 

 crop than with most others, for the grass roots absolutely 

 fill the soil, and the soil itself is in a relatively compact con- 

 dition, — unfavorable to the rapid percolation of Avaler. 

 The Avriter has in a number of instances seen unmistakable 

 evidence, in the second season following its ai)plication, of 

 the beneficial clfects of a heavy dressing of nitrate of soda. 

 This observation, however, was made ui)()n soils containing a 

 large pr()})ortion of very fine })articles, and therefore naturally 

 compact and relatively impermeable. Even in the case of 

 such soils, however, much care should be tak(>n to aj)ply 

 nitrate of soda as near as possible at the time when the crop 



