ON FIELD AND FLOWER GARDEN 



periments have been conducted to determine the 

 right element in which the soil is lacking and 

 supply that alone. 



The analysis of soils has often proven of value, 

 especially in scientific researches, but it is not 

 practical for the average farmer to have a chem- 

 ical analysis made of his soil to determine what 

 kind of fertilizer should be used. 



In practically every case good barnyard 

 manure gives excellent results. In the same way, 

 a fertilizer purchased on the market usually gives 

 the results desired. Because of the complexity of 

 the soil and the complexity of the requirements of 

 the plants so far as different elements are con- 

 cerned, it is plain to see that it seldom or never 

 happens that any one element is wholly elimi- 

 nated from the soil at a time. 



Sometimes an element which appears to be 

 exhausted from the soil is merely in an unavail- 

 able form. The addition of other elements in 

 such a case, although they do not seem to be 

 needed, may produce the required results because 

 they assist the unavailable elements in changing 

 to an available form. 



Nitrogen usually has the most immediate and 

 pronounced effect upon crops when it is applied 

 in fertilizers. Nitrogenous fertilizers always pro- 

 duce quicker results, and when it is desired to get 



[289] 



