FOOD FOR PLANTS 117 



they are commercially with sulphate of lime, con- 

 verts any black alkali residue into harmless forms of 

 soda. The vast majority of soils in the United 

 States, probably 95 per cent., have a tendency to 

 grow acid rather than to grow alkali; and Chilean 

 Nitrate is, therefore, highly beneficial in such 

 cases. 



The use of potash salts tends to leave acid resid- 

 uals, and when phosphates and potashes are used 

 rationally, and in quantities suitable for normal 

 plant feeding, the question of Chilean Nitrate leaving 

 abnormal amounts of alkaline residues becomes a 

 purely fanciful one, and is not worthy of the serious 

 attention of a practical business horticulturist or 

 farmer. 



In all our literature, the rational and not the irra- 

 tional use of fertilizers is recommended, i. e., normal 

 amounts of the three elements of fertility. The use 

 of Chilean Nitrate alone is not recommended except 

 at the rate of 100 or 200 pounds per acre, which is a 

 trifling tonnage application; and we always advise 

 when larger amounts are used, that the horticulturist 

 or farmer use as much in quantity of acid phosphate. 



The vast majority of farm lands of our country, 

 where so-called "Complete" fertilizers have been 

 used, have the tendency to become sour and acid; 

 and Chilean Nitrate could not only be used indefi- 

 nitely with an extremely beneficial effect in this 

 particular connection, but there is an immediate gen- 

 eral need for it. 



An acre of ground one foot deep is the active serv- 

 ice part of the soil, and, to a large extent, its chemical 



