104 THE BOOK OF CORN 



the crop ; the remainder is in the form of ground bone, 

 which will decay rapidly enough to supply the demands 

 of the latter growth, and the portion not used will con- 

 tribute to the potential fertility. The potash may be 

 in the form of muriate, as it is distributed readily, is 

 cheap, and does not contain substances which would 

 make it unsafe to apply in the drill in the quantities 

 here given, and may, therefore, be added in the row 

 with the planter, though on heavy lands the minerals 

 would better be applied broadcast and harrowed in, 

 since the use of muriate of potash results in a loss of 

 lime ; if it is continued, the land should be limed at the 

 rate of twenty-five bushels per acre, once in five or eight 

 years, on the sod the year previous to planting. Lime 

 is also useful in aiding in the decomposition of vege- 

 table matter, in setting free phosphoric acid and 

 potash, and in neutralizing any acidity of soil. 



The constituents furnished by the manure and the 

 mixture are sufficient for a good crop, without de- 

 pendence upon soil supplies, if all could be obtained, 

 but this is not usually the case, because absolutely per- 

 fect distribution cannot be expected, and besides con- 

 ditions of season are not always so perfect as to per- 

 mit a continuous feeding throughout the entire grow- 

 ing season. In an average season, however, a large 

 increase in yield should be obtained, and a considerable 

 residue of fertility left for subsequent crops. On light, 

 sandy soils, the mixture should also contain nitrogen 

 in addition to that added in the manures, both to give 

 the plant an early start and to aid in the feeding 

 throughout the season. A brand well adapted for sup- 

 plementing yard manure on sandy soils may contain 

 ammonia two per cent, available phosphoric acid eight 

 per cent, and potash ten per cent, and which may be 

 made up of: 



