SOURCES OF PLANT-FOOD 



If land is infertile, it is better, as a rule, to apply 

 actual plant-food. 



Coal-ashes. --There is no plant-food of value 

 in coal-ashes. The physical condition of heavy 

 soils is improved by an application, and their use 

 may be quite profitable in this way if cost of appli- 

 cation is small. When used as a mulch, ashes 

 conserve moisture. 



Muck. The use of muck pays in stables, as 

 it is a good absorbent and contains some nitrogen 

 which gains in availability by mixture with ma- 

 nure. Its direct application to land as a fertilizer 

 does not pay the labor bill under ordinary cir- 

 cumstances. 



Sawdust. As a fertilizer, sawdust does not 

 have much value, but serves as an excellent ab- 

 sorbent in stables. Its presence in manure need not 

 cause fear of injury to the soil. When fresh saw- 

 dust is applied in large quantity to a sandy soil, 

 the effect upon physical condition is bad, increasing 

 drouthiness. 



[187] 



