FOOD FOR PLANTS 9 



NITRATE: WHAT IT IS IN AGRICULTURE. 



Nitrate of Soda, from the standpoint of the agri- 

 cultural chemist, is a substance formed by the union 

 of nitric oxide and soda. In appearance it resembles 



coarse salt. In agriculture, it is valuable chiefly for 

 its active Nitrogen, although it is also a soil sweet- 

 ener and is frequently capable of rendering soil 

 potash available. 



Commercially pure Nitrate contains about 15 per 



