FERTILIZERS FOR VEGETABLES 



241 



Mr. Greffrath : Do you consider sheep manures that are 

 pulverized a good product to buy? 



Professor Van Slyke: They are a good product to put 

 on, but too expensive to buy, eighteen dollars a ton. They 

 run about two per cent, nitrogen, the same amounts of phos- 

 phoric acid and potash. You have probably less than eight 

 dollars worth of plant food there. For field work the cost 

 is too high. For greenhouse work in a small way, it may be 

 useful. 



Question : How does that compare with pig manure 

 ground ? 



Professor Van Slyke : Very much the same. 



When Apply Manure? 



Question: In regard to stable manure, when would you 

 advise having it spread? 



Professor Van Slyke : If one is producing the stable 

 manure on his own farm and there is nothing to prevent, the 

 best time, all things considered, is to spread from the stable. 

 There is only this objection to applying in the fall, and I do 

 not think on the whole it is a very serious one where put on 

 late in the fall ; as it is spread on the surface, the rains come 

 and wash out the soluble material into the soil, and the in- 

 soluble material that is left on the surface does not decom- 

 pose as rapidly when separated from the soluble part. 



Question: You would advise plowing under in the fall? 



Professor Van Slyke : It would be better. 



Question: You would not advise applying manure 

 through the winter? 



Professor Van Slyke : Yes. The objection I have men- 

 tioned is raised, but I do not think on the whole it is a very 

 serious matter. 



Question: Do you think manure turned under in the fall 

 is better than in the spring on a muck soil? 



Professor Van Slyke: I should be governed very large- 

 ly by convenience as to which was the easiest thing to do. 



