MIXTURES FOR CROPS 



the plant-food where needed, and saves from 

 danger of injury to the seed through contact. 

 A seeming exception may be found in the case of 

 the potato, but usually some close tillage confines 

 its roots to the row for a time. Experience indi- 

 cates that when a potato fertilizer does not exceed 

 500 pounds per acre, it may well be put into the 

 row, but a heavier application should be divided, 

 one half being broadcasted or drilled into the sur- 

 face, and the other half of the application being 

 made in the row. 



An Excess of Nitrogen. Too much nitrogen, 

 due to heavy manuring or other cause, produces 

 an excessive growth of stalk or straw, at the ex- 

 pense of grain production, in the case of corn, 

 wheat, and other cereals. It produces a rank 

 growth of potato vines and partial failure of the 

 crop of tubers. It produces a tender growth of 

 straw or vine that invites injury from fungous 

 diseases. It is the rule that soils have a deficiency 

 in nitrogen, but when there is an excess, the best 

 cure comes through use of such crops as timothy, 

 cabbage, and ensilage corn. Heavy applications of 

 rock-and-potash fertilizers assist in recovery of right 

 conditions, but are not wholly effective until exhaus- 

 tive crops have removed some of the nitrogen. 



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