Some interesting and valuable experi- Comparative 

 ments were made at the Connecticut h.x- ^yaiia^iuty qJ 

 periment Station, in 1894, to ascertain how jyjjj^Qgg^ j^ 

 much of the Nitrogen contained in such Various Forms, 

 materials as dried blood, tankage, dry nsn, 

 cotton-seed meal, etc., is available to plants. 



The experiments were made with corn, and it was found 

 that when the same quantity of Nitrogen was applied in the 

 various forms the crop increased over that where no Nitro- 

 gen was applied, as shown in the following table: 



Increase of Crop from Same Quantity of Nitrogen 

 from Different Sources. 



Relative 

 Sources of Nitrogen. Crop Increase. 



Nitrate of Soda ' 00 



Dried Blood 11 



Cotton-seed Meal 72 



Dry Fish 70 



Tankage 62 



Linseed Meal 7 ^ 



The above table shows some interesting facts. It is 

 evident that onlv about three-fourths as much of the Nitro- 

 gen in dried blood or cotton-seed meal as in Nitrate of 

 Soda is available the/rj/ season. The Nitrogen in tankage 

 is even less available, only a little over half being used by 

 the crop. 



These experiments were made with corn, which grows 

 for a long period when the ground is warm and the con- 

 ditions most favorable to render the Nitrogen in organic 

 substances available and yet only part of it could be used 

 by the crop. When Nitrogen in organic forms is applied 

 to oats, barley and other spring crops that are sown when 

 the ground is cold, and which grow only a short time dur- 

 ing warm weather, the amount used by the crop must nec- 

 essarily be considered less. 



When it is considered that Nitrogen in the form ot 

 Nitrate of Soda can be bought for less per pound than in 

 almost any other form, the advantage and economy of pur- 

 chasing and using it in this form is very apparent. 



It is always more economical to buy the '^hat Fertilizers 

 different fertilizing materials and mix them d.„, 

 1 1 ° 1 • J r I- ^0 Duy. 



at home than to purchase mixed rertihzers 



Food for 

 Plants 



35 



