FOOD FOR PLANTS 13 



present methods of cropping the rich lands of our 

 western states, that for every pound of Nitrogen 

 actually used to make a wheat crop, four to five 

 pounds are utterly wasted. In other words, our pio- 

 neer agriculture has proceeded as though fertility 

 capital could be drawn upon forever. 



This injudicious waste is already reducing the 

 yield of many of the best lands, rendering the use of 

 at least a small application per acre of Nitrate both 

 profitable and necessary. The agricultural value of 

 Nitrate of Soda has had the attention of the foremost 

 agricultural and scientific specialists of the world, in- 

 cluding such men as Lawes and Gilbert, Sir William 

 Crookes, Dr. Dyer, Dr. Hall and Dr. Voelcker, in 

 England ; Professors Grandeau, Cassarini, Migneaux, 

 and Cadoret, in France; Professors Bernardo and 

 Alino, in Spain ; Dr. Wagner and Professor Maercker, 

 of Germany; and Drs. Voorhees, J. G. Lipman, 

 Brooks, Duggar, Ross, Patterson, Hilgard and Garcia 

 in America. The results obtained by these officials 

 may be summarized as follows: 



1. Nitrate of Soda acts very beneficially and with 

 great certainty upon all straw-growing plants. 



2. It is of special value for forcing the rapid de- 

 velopment and early maturity of most garden crops. 



3. It is of great importance in the production of 

 sugar beets, potatoes, hops, fodder crops, fiber plants, 

 and tobacco. 



4. It is exceedingly valuable in developing and 

 maintaining meadow grass and pasture lands. 



5. In the early stages of development it produces 

 favorable results upon peas, vetches, lupines, clover, 

 and alfalfa. 



