COMMERCIAL FERTILISERS 397 



the common fertilisers suffer no loss if left on the 

 surface, but it is generally considered best to work 

 all fertilisers into the soil, because this mixing 

 brings the plant food within reach of the roots 

 more quickly. There are some fertiliser distrib- 

 utors on the market that do the work cheaper 

 than it can be done by hand; fertilisers may also 

 be drilled in. 



Whether part or all of the fertiliser should be 

 put into the hill or drill depends upon the soil and 

 the crop. Nothing is lost by broadcasting it, for 

 the roots of the crop will lay every foot of soil under 

 tribute ; but an early start may be gained by putting 

 part of the fertiliser in the hill or drill, if it is quickly 

 available. This is especially profitable on light 

 and poor soils, particularly if but little fertiliser 

 is used; and for market garden crops, as earliness 

 counts for more with them than with general farm 

 crops. In any case only a part of the fertiliser 

 should be put in the hill or drill ; most of it should 

 be broadcasted. With grains, however, all the 

 fertiliser may be drilled in. Fertilisers used on 

 hoed crops that are growing should be cultivated 

 in between the rows. A nitrogen fertiliser ap- 

 plied after the crop has started should not be put 

 on when the leaves are wet; if much of the fer- 

 tiliser sticks to the leaves, injury may follow. 



The amount of fertiliser to apply depends upon 

 the kind of soil, the value of the land, the kind of 

 crop, the market value of the crop, the amount of 

 manure available, whether green-manuring has 

 been practised, the system of farming, and many 

 other factors. No general statement can be made 

 that is of any value. Perhaps a general average 

 for staple crops on the poorer soils of the Eastern 

 States is 20 pounds or nitrogen, 80 pounds of 



