22 FOOD FOR PLANTS 



Even when Nitrogen was applied in the spring the 

 losses were not large unless heavy rains occurred at 

 the time. The Nitrogen is apparently rapidly taken 

 up by the young growing plants at this season of the 

 year and only a small portion is free to pass into the 

 drainage. The greatest losses occur in the fall, when 

 the soil is bare and heavy rains occur, the Nitrates 

 having accumulated in large quantities during the 

 warmer period of the year. Large losses at this 

 season are, however, prevented by the growing of 

 cover crops. 



In applying fertilizers it should be remembered 

 that any form of phosphoric acid, such as acid phos- 

 phate, dissolved bone-black or bone meal is only 

 partially soluble, and will not circulate freely in the 

 soil. These fertilizers should, therefore, be evenly 

 distributed over the soil and well mixed with it. This 

 is usually best done by applying broadcast before 

 sowing the seed and before the ground is thoroughly 

 prepared. 



Nitrate of Soda, on the other hand, will diffuse 

 itself thoroughly throughout the soil if there is 

 enough moisture to dissolve it. It can, therefore, be 

 applied by scattering on the surface of the ground. 



Since Nitrate of Soda and salts of potash are 

 brought to this country by sea, and phosphate is 

 usually transported from the mines in vessels, all 

 these materials, as a rule, can be purchased at the 

 seaports cheaper than in the interior. New York is 

 the largest market for these materials, but Philadel- 

 phia, Baltimore, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, New 

 Orleans, Galveston, San Francisco, Portland and 

 Seattle, are also ports of entry. 



