84 



Food for iy_ "fhe farmer must not expect it to excuse him from 



Plants applying proper principles of land drainage, or cultivation 

 of the soil, nor should the Nitrate of Soda be used in ex- 

 cessive quantities too close to the plants that are fertilized 

 with it. For most agricultural crops, an application of lOO to 

 150 lbs. to the acre is sufficient. Where a highly intensive 

 system of farming is pursued, should it be desirable to apply 

 more Nitrate, it should be done in broken doses of not ex- 

 ceeding 150 lbs. to the acre, at intervals of not less than 

 two weeks between the applications. 



18. It may be applied to either agricultural or garden 

 lands in the form of a solution in water, or by sowing it 

 broadcast upon the land, or by means of anv fertilizer-dis- 

 tributing machine in use. If applied in the dry state, in 

 order to insure uniform distribution, a convenient method 

 is to mix it with twice its weight of air-slacked lime, land 

 plaster, potash salts, phosphates, or even with sand, before 

 applying it. It can be applied to the surface, and without 

 cultivation will be absorbed by the soil, or it may be culti- 

 vated into the soil by some light agricultural implement, 

 such as a harrow, weeder, cultivator or horse hoe. The 

 capillary movement of the soil waters will distribute it in 

 the soil, but excessive rains immediately after its application 

 may sometimes wash it out of the soil. 

 If IT O ht Accepting the conclusions of these scientific 



, T men, the use of Nitrate of Soda in agri- 



to Increase. , ' 1 1 • j • 



culture ought to be mcreased proportionate 



to the dissemination of the knowledge of its usefulness 

 among our farmers. We ought to expect especially an in- 

 crease in the consumption of Nitrate among growers of 

 tobacco, fiber plants, sugar beets, the hop, grape, and small 

 fruit industry generally. The element of plant food first 

 exhausted in soils is Nitrogen, and in many cases a marked 

 increase in crop is obtained through top dressings of Nitrate 

 alone. Commercial fertilizers are generally rather low in 

 ammonia, and Nitrate may be wisely used to supplement 

 them. As it is practically the cheapest form of plant food 

 ammonia, its use in complete fertilizers promises to increase 

 further. 



The illustrations beginning on page 102 represent 

 accurately taken photographs of results of fertilizer experi- 

 ments with Nitrate of Soda. 



