108 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



You will look for a close agreement between the two sides 

 only in case of the phosphoric acid and potash. The nitro- 

 gen, you remember, is subject to waste. You think such an 

 account will involve much labor, but you are mistaken. The 

 Experiment Station publishes already reports which make it 

 simple. The matter can, however, be still further simpli- 

 fied, and doubtless will be. Let the station issue tables 

 which show how many pounds of nitrogen, phosphoric acid 

 and potash there are in one hundred pounds of different fer- 

 tilizers ; how many pounds in a cord of manure ; how many 

 pounds in one hundred bushels of grain, vegetables, etc. ; 

 how many in one ton of hay ; and, knowing what you apply 

 and the crop harvested, there is not one of you but can fill 

 out the account at a glance. Set your boys and girls to 

 work upon it. It will provoke thought, both in them and 

 in you . It will be as serviceable in its field as a cash account 

 is in regulating expenses. 



I cannot tell you how to make the two sides balance. If 

 we knew, farming would be royally profitable. The plant 

 food in one hundred bushels of potatoes can be purchased for 

 about five dollars ; that in all other important crops for a 

 figure much below their usual value. There is ample margin 

 to cover interest, taxes and labor. It is because we waste so 

 much that our crops are unprofitable. Let us adopt means 

 to know just how much w^e are throwing away. When we 

 understand in what the leak consists, and how great it is, 

 we shall set to work the more earnestly to prevent it. 



I would keep the account with nitrogen as well. Here, 

 however, is a leak — toward the sea — that perhaps we shall 

 never be able to entirely prevent. Wagner says that we 

 must expect — even on land where there is an abundance of 

 phosphoric acid and potash — to apply three pounds of 

 nitrogen for every two recovered in the increase in the crop. 

 I hope we shall some day be able to do better. Let us know 

 the exact size of the leak in our own farming operations. I 

 fear most of us pay more than three for two. 



In feeding crops with nitrogen we must always keep in 

 mind that the soil does not lono- hold this element. This has 

 already l)een stated, but the matter is of much importance. 

 In providing for the crop of any season, combine quick and 



