G. D. HOWE’S POTATO MANUAL. 9 
soil had been yielding, for many years, potash enough to grow a crop 
of potatoes without applying any of that element. With such a soil 
it is useless to expend money for potash but put it into the other two 
elements. Of course it is understood that such a process will result 
in getting to an end of the available potash sometime, the extent of 
which, however, experiment will only tell. These illustrations are 
given simply to suggest the idea to some that they can possiblj 7 fer- 
tilize their land cheaper than they are doing now and attain as good 
results. It may pay you to do a little experimenting in this direc- 
tion, bv trying several of the single elements or combinations of them 
to determine whether the soil needs a complete manure or not and if 
not, what it does need. 
Another thing in this connection which some may have to contend 
with, and we have seen a complaint in this direction during the past 
season. Where land has a great abundance of lime in it the workings 
of some special fertilizers are upset by the phosphoric acid of the 
fertilizer uniting with the lime in the soil, forming a somewhat insoluble 
compound, which results in the fertilization being as if only nitrogen 
and phosphoric acid had been applied with the consequent failure of 
the crop and condemnation of the fertilizer. While the writer 
wouldn’t wish to undertake to say how to best remedy this trouble, 
he offers as a suggestion that some fertilizer can be found by experi- 
ment perhaps, if in no other way, which yields up its phosphoric acid 
reluctantly and thus the plant will be likely to get more of it than a 
quick acting fertilizer. Of course barnyard manure is such a fertili- 
zer but where one don’t wish to use this, it is quite probable some 
substitute can be found. 
If barnyard manure must be used, by all means, if it is possible, 
plow it in, in the fall, which will lessen the evil effects of scab, if 
potatoes grow scabby on your soil. Perhaps, right here as well as 
anywhere, we can make a few suggestions on 
Up to March 20, I shall give away the FARM JOURNAL of 
Philadelphia, a monthly having a national circulation of nearly 
200,000 copies and the American Fanil News Of Akron, Ohio, also 
a national monthly having over 100,000 circulation. The subscrip- 
tion price of the Journal is 50c. per year, and that of the News 25c. 
but soon to be advanced to 50c. 
The conditions upon which you can receive cither or both of these 
sterling papers will be found further on, under one of my special 
offers. 
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