COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 
61 
with other fertilizers before sowing or transplanting. If 
the soil does not contain a large percentage of sand, the 
loss from leaching is not likely to be serious. (2) As a 
top dressing around the plants or along the rows. This 
may be done by hand or when space will permit with a 
side-delivery fertilizer distributor. (3) In dry weather it 
is an advantage to open furrows along the rows, distrib- 
ute the nitrate in the furrows and then close them with a 
small shovel or fuller ; the same purpose may be accom- 
plished by the use of a drill ; or even by cultivation, after 
an application on the surface, the fertilizer may be mixed 
thoroughly with the moist soil. (4) The quickest and 
easiest way to apply this salt is to sow by hand with a 
full swing of the arm, as when sowing clover seed, letting 
the fertilizer fall where it will. Many gardeners who 
have adopted this labor-saving plan claim that it is safe 
i:i fertilizing plants, even those which have tender leaves, 
provided the foliage is perfectly dry, for nearly every 
crystal that strikes the leaves naturally rebounds or 
glances to the ground. The broadcasting method is safe 
for cabbage, even if the salt lodges in the axils of the 
leaves. (5) Nitrate may also be dissolved in water and 
then applied by means of a hose ; or by the overhead 
system of irrigation. One ounce of nitrate to one gallon 
of water is the proper proportion for most purposes. If 
there is fear of burning the foliage, clear water may be 
sprayed on the plants after the solution of nitrate has 
been applied. Sulphate of ammonia may be used in 
much the same way as nitrate of soda. The soil should 
be well limed to prevent excessive acidity. 
Nitrogen may be supplied in various other forms: Raw 
or steamed bone may furnish 3 to 6 per cent of nitrogen, 
although the nitrogen in this form becomes available very 
slowly ; dried blood, which contains from 6 to 14 per cent of 
nitrogen, decomposes rapidly. Tankage varies greatly in 
composition, ranging from 4 to 12 per cent of nitrogen ; cot- 
