264 SOILS AND MANUKES 



has fallen. The substance itself is slightly deliquescent. 

 It soon absorbs moisture from the air, and the evening 

 dews are sufficient to dissolve it and cause it to sink into 

 the soil, whence it may be taken up by the plants. It 

 is therefore particularly well suited for dry climates and 

 for late dressings. 



For the same reason, i.e., because of its extreme 

 solubility, it is not so suitable for very light soils. It 

 acts just as well on these as on stiff land, but it is more 

 liable to be washed out into the drainage by heavy rains. 

 The liability to loss is perhaps not very great, even on 

 moderately light soils, if it is applied as a top dressing 

 to the growing crop, but if applied earlier in the year and 

 harrowed in with the seed, as is sometimes done, the risk 

 of loss is considerable and altogether unnecessary. So 

 important is this aspect of the matter that some farmers 

 have adopted the plan of dividing the total quantity to 

 be applied into two or even three portions, and spreading 

 them separately at intervals of ten days or a fortnight. 

 This plan has its disadvantages, but is on right lines. It 

 is calculated to produce the best results that can be 

 obtained by the use of a given quantity of the manure. 



Application. Nitrate of soda is distinctly the most 

 efficacious nitrogenous manure for grass and cereals. It is 

 applied, as has just been said, as a top dressing to the grow- 

 ing crop. From 1 to 2 cwts. per acre is generally allowed, 

 but even smaller quantities are often highly beneficial. 

 Some difficulty may be experienced in spreading a 

 small quantity uniformly over a large area, and if it 

 be proposed to apply it by instalments, the difficulty will 

 be all the greater. It is, however, easy to swell the bulk 

 by mixing the manure with a quantity of. fine soil, 

 sand, sawdust, or other similar substance. 



If used for turnips and potatoes, it may be put into 

 the drills along with the other manures without much 



