106 
SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE 
and to stimulate, the plants would never unfold a leaf. 
SULPHATE OF AMMONIA 
is one of the best forms of ammonia, and one which contains 
the greatest per cent, of nitrogen of any substance we use as 
a fertilizer. It is a by-product from the manufacture of gas 
and coke, also from burning bones. The ammonia is liberated 
from the coal or bones by combustion, but before it reaches 
the outside atmosphere it is caught with the aid of sulphuric 
acid and held in the form of a salt. Thus an acid and an al¬ 
kali, either of which would take the skin from your hands, 
are rendered a neutral substance and can be handled and stored 
with impunity. When applied to the soil in a limited quantity 
its effect can be quickly seen, as it is ready to be taken up by 
the plant as soon as it comes in contact with the moist earth or 
is wet by rain or dews. Some chemists contend thst it changes 
to nitric acid before the plants use it, while others claim that 
it is taken up as it is. I do not claim to understand how na¬ 
ture effects these changes, but I do know that there is nothing 
that will kill vegetable life more quickly than an overdose of 
sulphate ammonia, or one that will put more life and vigor 
into a plant in a quicker time if properly applied than this 
same “salt,” yielding about 25 per cent, of ammonia. 
Nitrate of soda is the next in order. This is also a salt and 
is obtained from the west coast of South America. It is in a 
section where rain is almost unknown, so that the accumula¬ 
tions have remained unchanged. It is found in the form of 
rock and is generally near the surface. The overburden or 
fop soil is removed and the nitre rocks dug out and loaded 
on to cars which are taken to a nitre works where the rock is 
crushed and put in large vats containing boiling water. The 
nitrate of soda soon dissolves, and in this way is separated 
from impurities. From the boiling pan the liquor is drawn 
off into evaporating vats. In that arid climate the water soon 
evaporates and leaves the nitrate of soda in crystals in the 
bottom and on the sides of the vat. It is then put in heavy 
sacks and shipped to all parts of the world. The action of 
nitrate of soda on plant life is very stimulating and quick, and 
for this reason is very valuable to gardeners whose crops are 
behind on account of late planting, cold or other causes. It is 
said to be very slippery, and if more is put on the soil than the 
plants require the rains will dissolve and carry it away. It does 
not adhere nor unite with the soil but remains dissolved un¬ 
til the moisture is evaporated from it. Sulphate of ammonia 
and nitrate of soda are the best forms of ammonia in a dry or 
partially dry season, owing to the fact that they require very 
little moisture to dissolve themselves. In fact, in Florida 
