FOOD FOR PLANTS 51 



should be maintained — that is, the surface soil to 

 that depth kept thoroughly pulverized. 



At the Kentucky Experiment Station, experiments 

 were made with fertilizers on Burley Tobacco. The 

 land was "deficient in natural drainage," so that the 

 fertilizers could hardly be expected to have their full 

 effect. Yet, as will be seen by the following table, 

 the profits from the use of the fertilizers were 

 enormous : 



Experiments on Tobacco at the Kentucky Experiment 

 Station. 



Value of 



, Yield of Tobacco — Pounds ^ Tobacco 



Fertilizer per Acre Bright Red Lugs Tips Trash ToUl per Acre 



1. No manure 200 360 60 540 1,160 $67.20 



2. 160 lbs. Nitrate of 



Soda 230 450 310 90 530 1,610 138.40 



3. 160 lbs sulp. of pot- 



ash; 160 lbs. Ni- 

 trate of Soda 190 755 605 120 140 1,810 190.45 



4. 320 lbs. superphos- 



phate; 160 lbs. 

 sulp. of potash; 

 160 lbs. Nitrate of 

 Soda 310 810 420 10 360 2,000 201.20 



"The tobacco was assorted by an expert and the 

 prices given as follows: bright and red, fifteen cents 

 per pound ; lugs, six cents per pound ; tips, eight cents 

 per pound; trash, two cents per pound." 



One hundred and sixty pounds Nitrate of Soda, 

 costing about $3.75, increased the value of the crop 

 $71.20 per acre! 



Instructions for Using Nitrate of Soda on Tobacco. 



Just before setting out plants, apply the Nitrate of 

 Soda by broadcasting it evenly, by machine, or by 



