Fertilizers for Cereals and Grasses 235 



land should occasionally receive a dressing of lime, both 

 to supply that which the plants need, as well as to correct 

 possible acidity of soil. 



WILL THIS SYSTEM OF FERTILIZING PAY? 



That fertilization will pay if carried out, as is 

 pointed out here, and upon lands not now producing 

 paying crops, depends, of course, very largely upon 

 the price of the crops, the cost of the materials, and 

 the method of farming practiced. At the prices 

 which have prevailed in the recent past, for both 

 crops and fertilizing materials, there is no doubt 

 that this reasonable fertilization, together with a good 

 system of practice in other respects, that is, good 

 plowing, good harrowing, good drainage and good culti- 

 vation will result in very satisfactory returns. In 

 fact, it has been shown by repeated experiments (see 

 bulletins and reports of New Jersey Experiment 

 Station) that the yields on land which is capable of 

 producing an average crop of 15 bushels of wheat to 

 the acre, 30 of corn and 30 of oats, may be more 

 than doubled by an abundant supply of fertilizing 

 materials. Such an increase results in an actual di- 

 rect gain, as well as in the saving of labor per unit 

 of product, which is accomplished when the larger 

 crop is secured. 



The main point in this whole matter of fertilization 

 is to understand that a fertilizer is a fertilizer because of 

 the kind and form of plant-food contained in it ; and that 

 its best action, other things being equal, is accomplished 

 when the soil possesses good physical qualities, when the 

 management is also good, and when systematic methods 



