110 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



the fall enables us to both conserve and gain nitrogen. The 

 latter purpose is well served only by leguminous crops, of 

 which the clovers are the most important. AVe should aim 

 never to allow fields to lie Imre during the season when the 

 ground is open. It often pays better to feed crops grown 

 for this purpose than it does to turn them in. The stubble 

 and roots have a great manurial value. . 



5. So manage as to prevent loss of urine and ammonia 

 of manures. Apply to the fields when fresh, aiming to 

 reduce the labor of handling to a minimum. 



6. Special fertilizers are not correctly proportioned ; 

 they contain relatively too high a proportion of phosphoric 

 acid. If they are to be employed, use potash with them. 



7. It is generally best to use manure and fertilizer 

 together rather than each by itself. 



8. Unmixed fertilizers in areat variety can l^e obtained, 

 and by their use in connection with home-made manures the 

 farmer can keep up the fertility of his fields at least expense. 



9. In the use of phosphoric acid and potash follow the 

 plan of accumulating a large working capital. 



10. For phosphoric acid depend chiefly upon the cheaper 

 natural phosphates to accomplish this. 



11. For potash the cheapest present source is the 

 muriate. 



12. In supplying nitrogen use mixed materials of 

 difi(erent degrees of availability ; or, if choosing to depend 

 on nitrate of soda, apply at two or more dift'erent times. Do 

 not apply nitrogen in large excess of the requirements of the 

 crop under cultivation. 



13. Open an account with j-our fields, charging each 

 with the plant food applied, crediting w^ith the amounts 

 removed in the crops. Try to make the two sides of the 

 account balance. We should be able to do this pretty nearly 

 for the phosphoric acid and potash ; we cannot expect so 

 close an agreement for the nitrogen. 



In conclusion, I believe in general in broadcast applica- 

 tion both of manure and fertilizer, and would keep both near 

 the surface. In some cases a part of the quick-acting 

 fertilizer may wdth advantage be put in the hill or drill. 

 For potatoes, drill application of all the fertilizer has given 



