14 BULLETIN 16, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
fertilizer analyzing 8 per cent of phosphoric acid, 4 per cent of 
ammonia, and 74 per cent of potash. On the very lhghtest soils of 
the New Belt section, for reasons already mentioned, better results 
might be obtained by reducing the phosphoric acid, say, to 400 
pounds, or by increasing the blood (ammonia) to 300 pounds or more, 
thus narrowing the ratio between the ammonia and phosphoric acid 
to 5 or 54 to 8 instead of 4 to 8 as shown in the formula as given. 
Fertilizers for tobacco are generally applied in the row, and when 
used in the ordinary quantities better immediate effects are no doubt 
realized. When considerable fertilizer is used in the row, however, 
even in the quantities mentioned above, it should be thoroughly in- 
eorporated with the soil by running a double-shovel plow with nar- 
row teeth along the row before it 1s bedded. When large quantities 
of fertilizer are used, it might be best to apply at least half broadcast. 
In connection with the use of fertilizers, it is assumed that the humus 
supply has been given due consideration, thus insuring a good 
physical condition and moisture-holding capacity. A tight, drought- 
stricken, or badly drained soil can not be expected to become very. 
productive just by increasing the supply of plant food in the form 
of commercial fertilizers. 
In the above discussion no special mention has been made of the 
relative value of the different sources from which the plant-food 
materials may be derived, and this has purposely been omitted for the 
sake of brevity. It should be stated, however, that the materials 
mentioned may be regarded as standard, in the hght of our present 
knowledge, and as good as anything now on the market. 
As a source of potash, however, the sulphate should generally be 
given the preference in a tobacco fertilizer. The other materials 
most likely to be used as a substitute are muriate of potash and 
kainit. Both of these materials contain large quantities of chlorin, 
which has a tendency to make the tobacco burn poorly. Complaints 
have frequently been made as to the poor burning quality of flue- 
cured tobacco, particularly in respect to tobacco from the New Belt 
section, and it would be unwise to use anything in the fertilizer 
which would tend to strengthen the basis for this criticism. 
BARN MANURE FOR FLUE-CURED TOBACCO. 
While commercial fertilizers are and of necessity must remain the 
chief reliance of the tobacco grower, barn lot or stable manure is used 
to some extent on bright tobacco, although it has opponents as 
well as advocates of its suitability for this crop. In so far as its 
use may be considered objectionable, the objection has the same basis 
as that of other organic materials overrich in ammonia, namely, the 
tendency to make the tobacco coarser and darker. The lighter and 
poorer the land in respect to other ammoniates, the more likely is the 
