SYNOPSIS. 



PAGES 



The Needs of Modern Farming 1-5 



Available Plant Food The Key; Analysis of Soil No Guide; 

 What Plants Need; The Inorganic Elements. 



The Essential Elements of Plant Food 6-13 



Nitrogen the First Element; Sources and Need of; Phosphoric 

 Acid the Second Element; Sources and Need of; Composition of 

 Bone; What is a "Catalyzer"; Four Forms of Phosphate; 

 Ground Phosphates; Basic Slag Phosphates; Potash the Third 

 Element; Sources and Need of; Lime, Occasionally Needed for 

 • Sour Soils; How and When to Apply. 



The "Bulk" In Fertilizers 14-17 



What Makes up a Ton; The Bulk in Manure; Dryers and "Con- 

 ditioners"; How to Secure Value in Fertilizers; Contract of 

 Sellers. 



Chemically Mixed Fertilizers vs. "Dry Mixed" and "Home Mixed" 18-21 

 Chemical Blending; Why Fertilizers are Bought; Availability and 

 Mechanical Condition; Balanced and Specialized Fertilizers; 

 What to Avoid; Crop Insurance. 



The "Yeast of the Soil" or Soil Bacteria 22-27 



How One Order of Life Helps Another; Nitrifying and Denitrify- 

 ing Organisms; The Modern Explanation of Composting, Drain- 

 age and Cultivation; The Sap of the Soil; How Enriched; Poten- 

 tial Fertility; Amount of Plant Food in Soil; The Little Balance. 



Stable Manure and Commercial Fertilizers Compared 28-29 



Weight and Composition of Manure; Value of Humus; Manure- 

 sick Land; Count Cost before Buying Manure. 



Intensive Farming 30-32 



What They are Doing in Europe; What We are Doing at 

 Home; Plant Food Supply. 



The Application of Fertilizers 33-35 



Best Results on Well-Prepared Land; Value of Weeds; Cultiva- 

 tion Enriches Soil; Reduce Acreage and Intensify Treatment; 

 Reduce Unit Cost. 



General Directions 36-38 



Broadcast; Part Broadcast and Part in Hill or Drill; Hill and 

 Drill Application; Frequent Apphcations; Where to Use Manure 

 and Where to Use Fertilizers. 



Specific Directions 39-49 



For Potatoes; Corn, Small Grains; Top Dressing; Seeding Down: 

 Roots; Onions; Cabbage; Celery; Vines; Tomatoes; Asparagus; 

 Peas and Beans; Small Fruits; Tobacco: Trees; Lawns; Kitchen 

 Gardens and Special Crops. 



Commercial "Valuations" of Fertilizers 50-52 



What Official Inspectors Say: GoverDment Regulation Absolute- 

 ly Essential. 



10AM rACK 



GIFT 



