which can only be obtained by having the soil very com- ^^^'^ fo'" 

 pact and in fine tilth so as to promote the capillary move- ^'^"^^ 

 ment of the soil moisture to the surface, where it may be ^ 

 retained for the use of the crop by means of frequent and 

 shallow cultivation. 



In view of the foregoing fact the advantage of using 

 Nitrate of Soda instead of stable manure as the source of 

 Nitrogen for this crop is plainly evident, as the Nitrate 

 supplies the most beneficial and important ingredient con- 

 tained in the stable manure (Nitrogen), and in a form in 

 which it is not dependent upon soil bacteria and weather 

 conditions to make it available for the young plants when 

 they need it most. If it be necessary to add humus to the 

 soil in the shape of stable manure it should be applied to 

 the crop preceding whenever possible. 



Considering the fact that Nitrogen is q^^^^^^^^ of 

 the element most frequently lacking in our pj^^^ p^^^ p^_ 

 soils, and knowing that the onion responds ^^-^^^^ ^y jj^g 

 most liberally to a plentiful feeding of am- q^j^j^ 

 moniate fertilizers it would seem conclusive 

 that it is to our interest to see that the plant has a liberal 

 supply of that element and in the best possible form, which 

 is undoubtedly Nitrate of Soda. 



We know that if a young pig or calf does not have an 

 abundance of the right kind of food when it is young it be- 

 comes stunted in growth and never recovers from it, no 

 matter how judiciously it is afterwards fed. The intelligent 

 cultivator has learned that the same rule holds good in the 

 feeding of plants ; hence the great importance of an imme- 

 diatelv available supply very early in the season just as the 

 plant is starting growth, and at which time it can only be 

 obtained from an application of Nitrate of Soda, since the 

 Nitrogen in other ammoniates and from organic sources 

 does not become available until later in the season after the 

 soil has warmed up to a temperature of 70 deg. or more 

 Fahrenheit. 



By having a supply ot available Nitrate at once the 

 plant starts off with a good healthy root growth, which en- 

 ables it better to take up the other and more complex 

 food elements as they become available throughout the 

 season. 



