5 



hardly bo dismissed as of no value whatever in the process of fertilisa- 

 tion. 



Many of the salts of soda — as, for instance, common salt — are quite 

 hygroscopic, and serve to attract moisture from the air, aud thus be- 

 come carriers of water between the plant and the air in seasons of 

 drought. 



The Chile saltpetre of commerce may reach the farmer in the lumpy 

 state in which it is shipped, or finely ground ready for application to 

 the fields Unless the farmer is provided with convenient means for 

 grinding the latter condition is much to be preferred. It permits of a 

 more even distribution of the salt and thus encourages economy in its use. 



NEED OF SODIUM NITRATE. 



The question of when the soil needs an application of Chile saltpetre 

 is often one of great importance, and the farmer would do well, before 

 applying a great deal of this expensive fertilizer, to consult the agricul- 

 tural experiment station of his locality, or should determine the actual 

 needs of his soil by experiments upon small plants. The quantity of 

 Chile saltpetre which should, be applied per acre varies with so many 

 different conditions as to nuke any definite statement concerning it un- 

 reliable. On account of the great solubility of this salt no more should 

 be used than is necessary for the temporary nutrition of the crop. For 

 each 100 pounds of it used, from 14 to 15 pounds of oxidized niirogen 

 would be added to the soil. Field crops, as a rule, require less of the 

 salt than garden crops. In the field crops there is an economic limit 

 to the ap plication of the salt which should not be passed. As a rule, 

 250 pounds per acre should be a maximum dresssing. The character 

 of the crop must also be taken into consideration. Different amounts 

 are required for sugar beets, tobacco, wheat and other standard crops. 

 Cereal crops, especially, absorb a high percentage of the nitrogen in 

 Chile saltpetre judiciously applied. As a rule, Chile saltpetre should 

 be used as a temporary supply. Its presence diminishes to a certain 

 extent the necessity for the activity of the nitrifying ferments, and its 

 long continued use in sufficient quantities would evidently cause an 

 enfeeblement of those organisms. 



CONSUMPTION OF SODIUM NITRATE. 



The entire consumption of Chile saltpetre for manurial purposes 

 throughout the world at the present time is perhaps a little over a mil- 

 lion tons annually, of a total value, • 1 elivered to a farmer, of over 

 40,000,000 dols. The approxima e amounts annually consumed in dif- 

 ferent countries are as follows : 



Tons. 



Germany ... ... 400,000 



France ... ... 200,000 



Belgium ... ... 125,000 



England ... ... 120,000 



United States ... ... 100,000 



Holland ... ... 60,000 



Italy and Spain ... ... 5,000 



Other countries ... ... 6,000 



VALUE OF CHILE SALTPETRE. 



Chile saltpetre has a moderate value at the factories in Chile where 

 it is prepared for shipment. Its high cost at the ports where it is de- 



