PHOSPHORUS FOR SOILS. 185 



It is not yet safe to say that upon all soils the 

 result would be the same, but on this particular soil, 

 somewhat acid, with a heavy growth of green clover 

 turned under, there is no mistaking the great saving 

 resulting from the use of the raw rock. 



Upon this same soil potash seemed to give no 

 no'ticeable result, nor could be found a strip where 

 was applied nitrate of soda at the rate of 100 

 pounds per acre. It was indistinguishable, showing 

 that the decaying crimson clover furnished all the 

 available nitrogen needed for the growth of the 

 little alfalfa plants. 



There was left one plot with no inoculation. The 

 result was most astonishing. Where the land was 

 inoculated with soil evenly spread the alfalfa stood 

 thick and strong, knee high and more. Where no 

 inoculation had been applied it was thin, weak, 

 crowded with weeds, many plants less than 2" high. 



Phosphates on Alfalfa. — Even on good land I have 

 found it very profitable to sow some sort of phos- 

 phate with new sown alfalfa. The phosphorus cer- 

 tainly greatly stimulates the little alfalfa plants and 

 makes them hustle to get ahead of the weeds and 

 grass. Thus stronger stands result. Also less seed 

 may be sown to the acre than if no phosphorus is 

 used. The writer and his brother have used on 

 Woodl'and Farm raw bone meal, acid phosphate and 

 basic slag with about equal reults so far as the eye 

 could see. It is our practice to put on 250 to 400 

 pounds per acre of 16% acid phosphate when the 

 alfalfa is sown in soils well filled with lime. Acid 



