8. It may be used as a surface application to the soil, ^°°'^ f*"" 



from time to time, as the plants indicate a need of it by 



their color and growth. ^ 



9. It is immediately available, and under favorable 

 conditions its effect upon many crops may be noticed within 

 a few hours after its application, 



10. It mav be used either as a special fertilizer, as a 

 supplemental fertilizer, or as a mixed fertilizer, in combi- 

 nation with other fertilizer ingredients. 



11. The best results are obtained from its application 

 when the soil has been treated with ample supplies ot 

 available phosphoric acid and potash salts, or where these 

 are already present in ample supplies in the soil. It should 

 always be remembered that it furnishes but one element of 

 plant food, namely, Nitrogen. 



12. Its uniform action seems to be to stimulate the 

 capacitv of the plant for absorbing water and developing 

 foliage and plant growth. Its action is characterized by 

 imparting to the plant a deep green, healthy appearance, and 

 bv causing it to grow rapidly, or to put out numbers of 

 new shoots. 



13. The immediate effect of an application of Nitrate 

 of Soda, therefore, is to develop a much larger plant 

 growth, and the skillful application of potash salts and 

 phosphoric acid must be relied upon to act in combination 

 with this effect, to secure the largest yields of fruits and grain. 



14. Under favorable conditions of moisture and culti- 

 vation, these effects may be confidently anticipated upon all 

 kinds of soils. 



15. All of the plant food contained in Nitrate of Soda 

 is available and existing in a highly soluble form. The 

 farmer should understand that it is not economical to apply 

 more of it than can be utilized by the growing crop ; one of 

 the most valuable qualities of this fertilizer being that it does 

 not lie dormant in the soil from one season to the next. 



16. The best results are secured when it is applied 

 during the early growing periods of the plant. If applied 

 later in the development of the plant, it has a tendency to 

 protract its growing period and to delay the ripening of the 

 fruit, as the energies of the plant are immediately concen- 

 trated upon developing its growth, after a liberal application 

 of Nitrate of Soda. 



