256 FERTILIZERS. 



form. It agrees in one particular with nitre, in its action upon grain crops, viz. by increasing 

 the height and quantity of straw and foliage, without increasing, in a direct proportion, the 

 amount of grain. Tiiis fact seems to have a meaning : it at least shows that increase in the 

 breadth and size of the leaf does not give a greater amount of nourishment to the seed. It 

 has been asserted that if we give food to our vegetables, and thereby increase the foliage, they 

 will take a greater amount of carbon from the atmosphere, and give in a better crop. The 

 effect of the nitrates does not seem to sustain this view. More carbon is made, it is true, but 

 the greater expansion of leaf does not give more weight to the seed, or prepare nutriment for 

 distant parts. It proves that each organ works for itself; that the cell, in its own sphere, is 

 the elaborator of food, and modifies the sap it receives, in its own peculiar way ; the leaf cells 

 in their way ; the root cells and stem cells in their way ; and finally, the embryo, or seed cells, 

 in their way. From the general stock of nutriment each part derives a supply of food, but 

 modifies it by its peculiar and inherent powers. 



The farmer will be able to make for himself practical rules for the application of nitrate of 

 soda, and even the nitrates generally, from the foregoing facts : he will not apply nitrate of 

 soda to a grain crop, unless he finds it necessary to give greater vigor to the straw and herbage. 

 Now there are cases in point, which I have witnessed, where a weak straw was the great 

 defect of the soil : the crop was invariably laid, but the grain was good, except from the in- 

 jury it sustained by prostration. Especially is this the case where rains fall, accompanied by 

 some wind ; the grain is prostrated, and the straw is too weak to rise. In cases of this kind 

 the application of nitrate of soda will do much towards saving the crop from injury : it is the 

 proper medicine to prescribe ; it will not be expected to add much to the grain in its own ca- 

 pacity. Again, a crop, as has been stated elsewhere, which consists of stalks and foliage, is 

 the proper one on which to employ the nitrates. There is another effect of this and its con- 

 gener salt ; they improve the quality of the foliage, and make it more agreeable to cattle. The 

 effects of the nitrates, then, are to impart greenness and freshness to the foliage ; to hasten and 

 prolong its growth and increase its weight, by promoting the growth of fibre ; and impart a 

 savoriness unknown to the unmedicated growth. Potatoes and peas will not be greatly bene- 

 fited by these salts. The tubers do not appear to increase with the foliage. This fact, that 

 foliage is no indication of a great yield of tubers, is well known, and the language used is that 

 " the potatoes have all grown to tops." Clover and grasses seem to be crops, if the foregoing 

 is true, which may be profitably cultivated with the nitrates. We secure, thereby, more weight 

 in the season of grass, and prolong the effect into autumn, which is very desirable in dairy 

 farming. It is at this period that butter may be laid down, for winter and spring use, to the 

 greatest advantage and profit. It is not determined whether its quality is better when made 

 from nitrated grass, or not ; it is probable that it is so. The quantity of soda which may be em- 

 ployed, per acre, will vary from 75 pounds to 150 pounds. A mixture of this salt with sul- 

 phate of soda is more suitable to all crops than its employment without mixture. 



Sulphate of Soda, {Glauber Salts.) In the manufacture of muriatic acid from common 

 salt, sulphate of soda is formed. Its action upon vegetation is similar to that of sulphate of 



