The Function of Manures and Fertilizers 33 



would cause in many cases an over-supply of vegetable 

 matter containing nitrogen, which for these crops is fre- 

 quently followed by disastrous results, not only causing 

 an abnormal growth of leaf and wood, but inducing it at 

 such periods of the year as to materially interfere with the 

 proper ripening of both the wood and the fruit. By the 

 use of artificial fertilizers, these difficulties may be largely 

 overcome. 



WILL IT PAY TO USE FERTILIZERS? 



It must be confessed that to give a definite and positive 

 answer to this question, with our present state of knowl- 

 edge, is a difficult matter, if not well-nigh impossible, 

 because of the very large number of varying conditions 

 that are involved. 



Usually such a question cannot be answered in a 

 rational way without first securing definite information 

 concerning the conditions under which they are to be 

 applied, as, for instance, the character of soil, whether 

 a sand, clay or loam; situation in reference to mois- 

 ture, whether too dry or too wet; the kind of subsoil, 

 whether a loose, open sand or gravel, a medium clay or 

 a tight, impervious hard-pan; the character of the pre- 

 vious treatment and cropping, whether the land has been 

 manured or fertilized, whether good cultivation has been 

 practiced, whether leguminous crops have been grown to 

 any extent, whether the produce raised has been sold, 

 or fed on the land ; whether the object of the growth has 

 been for immature produce and for early market, and 

 artificial growth demanded, or whether for maturity, 

 when the natural tendency has simply been assisted and 

 the development normal in all directions. 



