How to Fertilize 
Every farmer knows that plants need 
Food as much as cattle. He knows, too, 
that plants cannot get all the Food they 
Need out of the ground alone. lie must 
supply them with certain Foods himself, 
or they will not thrive and bear their full 
yield of fruit. Exactly as he supplies hay 
and oats to his horse, so he must supply 
Nitrogen and phosphate to his plants, 
lie may buy these in the open market 
exactly as he does his hay or his oats, or 
he'can buy them in combination. More¬ 
over, there is no secret value in the “com¬ 
plete fertilizer.” it is nothing more nor 
less than the ingredients combined and 
sold at a higher price. Nitrogen is by far 
the most.expensive as well as effective of 
plant foods, and it will pay the farmer 
well to stop and think before he buys it in 
this combination form or waits season 
after season for legume nitrogen, or or¬ 
ganic nitrogen to become available. 
These compounds generally averaging 
8-2-2 do not supply what nature re¬ 
quires, for the crops take out more nearly 
the equivalent of a 2-4-3; that is why we 
can in most cases and in most soils use 
Nitrate alone as a straight top dressing 
and the earlier the better. 
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profit from the use of a fertilizer, and 
wise buying is a prerequisite to success- 
Vhe RURAL NEW-YORKER 
ful use. 
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It may be used alone without other 
cV/li? ers ’ as a Top-Dressing, at the rate 
ot 100 pounds to the acre. 
How It Helps Crops 
If a young pig or a young calf does not 
have an abundance of the right kind of 
feed when it is young, it becomes stunted 
in growth, and never recovers fully, no 
matter how judiciously it is afterwards 
The intelligent cultivator has learned 
fed. 
Results with Nitrate 
For four years in succession samples of 
Nitrate of Soda were sent to farmers. In 
each experiment two patches were marked 
out side by side. One received an appli¬ 
cation of Nitrate of Soda at the rate of 
100 pounds per acre, the other had none. 
The following are fair samples of the re¬ 
sults reported: 
197 
Remarks : I had some on hand before 
receiving yours. Fine returns. All who 
have ever had anything to do with this 
chemical know its power to increase prof¬ 
its, if wisely applied. 
mm 
■11 els. 
Crop—Potatoes 
Name, T. ,T. Rhodes. 
P. O. Address, Leitchfield, 
R. F. D„ 1. 
State. Kentucky. 
bushels W ’^ ,0ut titrate produced 5^ 
Plot with Nitrate produced 11^ bush- 
Why Europe Makes Bigger Crops 
Than the United States 
Average Production of European 
Crops is as follows: 
Wheat . 33 bushels per acre 
Oats . 45 “ 
Potatoes .109.84 “ “ 
Cotton in Egypt. .400 pounds 
Europe uses a Home-Mixed 
Nitrate Fertilizer containing 8 
per cent of Phosphoric Acid 
and 4*4 per cent of Nitrate 
Nitrogen. 
Average Production of American = 
Crops is as follows: = 
Wheat . 14 bushels per acre M 
Oats . 40 “ “ 
Potatoes . 97.15 “ “ 
Cotton . 185 pounds “ 
America uses a Fertilizer con- M 
taining 8 per cent of Phos-| 
phoric Acid and 2 per cent of M 
Nitrogen which is mostly not B 
readily available. B 
Translated into Commercial 
Fertilizer 
terms, the comparison is as follows: 
What the 
What 
Average 
Nature 
Brand 
Requires 
Supplies 
Phosphoric Acid .... 2.02 
8 00 
Nitrogen . 4.33 
2 00 
Potash . 3.65 
2 00 
j§ The difference in yields is largely due to larger amount of Nitrate 
jj Nitrogen used in Europe per acre as Nitrate of Soda. Our small 
| American acre yields are due to failure to appreciate this neces- 
H sity. 
Write for “What Chilean Nitrate Has Done In The Farmer’s Own Hands.” 
DR. WILLIAM S. MYERS 
CHILEAN NITRATE COMMITTEE, 25 Madison 
lllllli 
The Eest and Cheapest Nitrogen 
The cheapest and most practical form 
in which to furnish Nitrogen to plants is 
Nitrate of Soda. In the rainless region of 
Chile are stored away vast quantities of 
Nitrogen in what are known as Nitrates 
—the only form in which Nitrogen can be 
utilized by plants. The Nitrogen which 
pxists in organic, vegetable or animal 
matter—that is. roots, steins, dead leaves, 
weeds, leather, tankage, dried blood—and 
Nitrogen as well in the form of Ammonia 
salts, must first be changed to Nitrate 
oefore it can be taken up by plants. This 
change is dependent upon conditions of 
weather. If the season be backward, or 
there be a prolonged drought, this change 
may he so retarded as to deprive the 
plant altogether of Nitrate Food at the 
very time it needs it most; moreover, 
certain mineral forms of commercial Ni¬ 
trogen leave acid residues in the soil. Ni¬ 
trate of Soda, on the other hand, is en¬ 
tirely independent of weather and leaves 
the soil sweet. It is immediately available 
under all circumstances, for it is readily 
soluble, and as soon as it comes within 
reach of the roots of plants it is taken up 
by them. It can, therefore, readily be 
seen that the practical value of various 
forms of Nitrogen ranges from nothing at 
all, where conditions of temperature or 
soil prevent Nitration, to 100 per cent, as 
Nitrate of Soda, where Nitration has al¬ 
ready completely taken place. Moreover, 
the process of transforming the Nitrogen 
of cottonseed meal, dried fish, dried blood, 
tankage, and other Nitrogenous constitu¬ 
ents into Nitrate is very wasteful, for 
much valuable nitrogen is lost in the pro¬ 
cess. as well as by natural oxidation. 
Official soil experiments have shown that 
100 pounds of Nitrogen in those organic 
forms has only about one-half to three- 
fourths the manorial value of 100 pounds 
of Nitrogen in its nitrated form of Ni¬ 
trate of Soda. 
A Great Saving 
In view of these facts it seems extra¬ 
ordinary that farmers should continue to 
purchase their Nitrogen in compounded 
form in a ready mixed fertilizer, when 
they can procure it much cheaper, and 
ready for the plants’ immediate use. in 
the form of Nitrate of Soda. 
Nitrogen is often in a form which is 
not available as food for the plants, for it 
must first be converted into Nitrate. The 
time required to do this varies from a few 
days to a few years, according to the 
temperature of the soil and the kind and 
condition of the materials used. 
that this holds good in the feeding of 
plants. Nitrogen is the element which en¬ 
ters most largely into the building up of 
the plant itself—roots, stems and leaves. 
Most plants need to take up the greater 
part of their Nitrogen during the early 
stages of their growth, as in oats. It is 
plain, therefore, that the cultivator cannot 
afford to overlook Nitrate, and thus en¬ 
danger the chances of his crops, which 
must have Nitrogen in a form the grow¬ 
ing plants can use. The presence of Ni¬ 
trate at the outset enables the plant to get 
its food WHEN it needs it most, and de¬ 
velops a vigorous growth of roots, leaves 
and stems capable of withstanding the 
scorching rays of the sun or sudden 
changes of temperature, disease, or the 
attacks of parasites. It is then able to 
mature properly. Without Nitrate pres¬ 
ent, the young plants will fail to attain 
stem and leaf growth sufficient to mature 
its fruit or grain. Why take chances with 
makeshifts or substitutes when the real 
thing’is 100 per cent, effective? 
Nitrate of Soda is of high value for 
early crops, such as peas. corn, beets, 
cabbage, where rapid maturity is desir- 
able. It is a special help to hay, grain, 
rye, wheat, timothy, cereals and orchards, 
all of which are unable to obtain suffi 
cieut Nitrogen from the soil just when 
they need it. It is a great specific in the 
production of sugar beets, potatoes, cot¬ 
ton, cane and apples, or other fruits. 
Small fruits, such as blackberries, cur¬ 
rants, raspberries and gooseberries, which 
need a steady, even growth, are greatlv 
benefited by Nitrate of Soda, which can 
be furnished all ready for digestion when 
the plants require it. 
The highest agricultural authorities 
have established by careful exporimenta- 
tion that 100 pounds per acre of Nitrate 
of Soda applied to crops has produced 
the increased yields tabulated as follows: 
Apples. 100 bushels. 
Parley.100 lbs. 
Corn. 280 “ 
Oats. 400 “ 
. 300 “ 
Avenue New York m 
1 
Crop—Earley 
Name, F. M. Travis. 
P. O. Address, Marlboro. 
R. F. I) , l, 
State, New Hampshire. 
bushels " lthout Nitrate produced ly^ 
cls^ot Nitrate Produced 214 bush- 
Date 
May IS. 
of applying Nitrate of Seda, 
Date of completing harvesting of the 
crop. Aug. o. 
Remarks: The Barley where Nitrate 
was used was S inches taller than the 
Barley where no Nitrate was applied I 
am well p.eased with the results obtained. 
Crop—Corn 
Name, M A. Freeman, 
P p' Address, Homeland, 
State, Georgia. 
no} 1 oo‘M/ t * 1 ii Ut Nitrate produced rate per 
acre iiooyn lbs. 
Plot with Nitrate 
acre 2.800 lbs. 
Date of 
May 1. 
produced 
applying Nitrate 
rate per 
of Soda, 
May* 14 ° f app,ying the Nitrate of Soda, 
Date of completing harvesting of the 
crop, Oct. 13. 
The Rational and Irrational Use of 
Nitrate of Soda 
Everywhere in the world where there is 
progressive experiment station work, the 
unique qualities of Nitrate of Soda are 
putting it ahead of every other Nitro¬ 
genous plant food. Nobody who advo¬ 
cates the rational use of fertilizers ever 
recommends such large quantities of Ni¬ 
trate of Soda per acre as would result in 
any abnormal accumulation of alkali salts 
Moreover, the use of acid phosphates', 
associated as they are frequently with 
sulphate of lime, converts any alkali resi¬ 
due into harmless foVms of soda. 
The use of potash salts tends to leave 
acid residuals in the soil, as do acid phos¬ 
phates even when rational quantities of 
acid phosphate and potash salts are used. 
-Nitrate of Soda is needed to help neu¬ 
tralize these residues. 
In most of our experiments where Ni- 
trate was used alone at the rate of only 
100 pounds per acre, with no further ap¬ 
plication of fertilizers to the plots, a de¬ 
cidedly marked effect was noticed. This 
speaks very well indeed for Nitrate of 
Soda not leaching out of the soil. The 
readily soluble elements of fertility are 
the readily available elements. The nat¬ 
ural capillarity of soils, doubtless, is in 
most instances a powerful factor in re- 
taining all the readily soluble elements of 
fertility, otherwise all the fertility of the 
world would, in a season or two, leach 
away into the ocean ; and be permanently 
A case is yet to be seen where the 
after effects of Nitrate is not disting¬ 
uishable, and in most eases such effects 
have been marked. The 2.000 or more 
tons of active service soil in an acre of 
Iand ., has a powerful holding capacity for 
all the useful, available elements of fer¬ 
tility. 
How to Use Nitrate 
Recent experience suggests that Nitrate 
may be applied as a Top Dressing to best 
advantage as soon as growth starts in the 
planting. 01 ^ better ’ bef ° re Seeding or 
. 11 ?. ltr J t * ? f Soda should be thoroughly 
5? lt /7 a f ed ln - as should other fertilizers, 
ran * 7 le5 ’ - m ? y P ro PeHy nourish the 
plant roots of the seeded and cultivated 
£™ p f. duria f the growing season. Most 
feitilizers should uot touch the seed. 
■ • Nitrate has a° acM residue to leave be¬ 
hind and it will leave nothing deleterious 
m your soil after using. It will enable 
crop at J u °y 9 g mpletius harvesting of the 
Remarks: I think Nitrate of Soda is 
just what is wanted for this soil. It is 
une. 
It must be recognized that the grower 
should have a chance to derive some 
Rye.. 
Wheat. 300 “ 
Potatoes.3.600 “ Tubers. 
Hay, upwards of... .1,000 “ Biun cured. 
Cotton. 500 “ Seed cotton. 
Sugar Beets.4.000 “ Tubers. 
Beets.4,900 “ “ 
Sweet Potatoes... . .3.900 “ “ 
Cabbages.6.100 pounds 
Carrots. 7,800 pounds. 
Turnips. 37 per cent. 
Strawberries. 200 quarts. 
Onions.1,800 pounds. 
Asparagus. 100 bunches. 
Tomatoes. 100 baskets. 
Celery. 30 per cent. 
Hops... 100 pounds. 
Nitrate of Soda is a plant tonic and an 
energizer; it is not a stimulant in any 
sense of the word. 
Crop—Oats 
Name, ,T. M. Winder. 
!>' 2' Address, Williamsport, 
K. F. L).. 
State, Pennsylvania. 
Plot without Nitrate produced at rate 
or 1< bu. per acre. 
0 _Dh't with Nitrate produced at rate of 
00 bu. per acre. 
Remarks : The plot with Nitrate 
could be very plainly seen while growing. 
Crop—Wheat 
Name, Frank I. Stevenson, 
P. O. Address, Perry, 
R F. D„ 1. 
State, Ohio. 
dot without Nitrate produced 75 lbs. 
Plot with Nitrate produced 138 lbs. 
Date of applying Nitrate of Soda, April. 
Date of completing harvesting of the 
crop, August. 
Remarks: Crop was on gravel land, 
rather dry for it most of the Summer. 
Crop—Strawberries 
Name. F. II. CArdozo, 
I’. <1. Address. Tnskegee. 
II. F. D.. Agric, Exp. Station, 
State. Alabama. 
Plot without Nitrate produced 100 
quarts strawberries. 
Plot with Nitrate produced 140 quarts 
strawberries. 
Date of applying the Nitrate of Soda, 
March and April 1. 
Date of completing harvesting the 
crop, July 17. 
you to overcome the effects of droughts 
and frosts in the shortest possible time 
and prolong the bearing period of your 
tiees. Nitrate does not have to wait to 
get busy. 
Proof Positive 
v J" a .t wen ?y year test to determine the 
value of various sources of Nitrogen, the 
New Jersey Experiment Station found 
that crop yields and the percentage of 
Nitrogen recovered in the crop were 
greater when Nitrates were used.” 
Utncial figures are— 
“ If ass jp to Nitrate Nitrogen a 
vaIae °. f lf) 0> then the relative availability 
of the tour materials stands as follows: 
Nitrate of Soda.100 0 
Ammonium Sulfate. 70 ’ 
Dried Blood . 62.0 
Manure . 52.4 
This research was published in “Soil 
Science,” April. 1918. 
Valuable Books Free 
Numerous books have been written on 
the value of Nitrate of Soda in agricul¬ 
ture- 1 hose books deal with questions on 
which progressive farmers cannot afford 
to form incorrect opinions. 
If you are farming to make money you 
owe it to yourself to send for the free 
books which pertain to your crop. If vou 
want to know what farmers have done 
both in America and Europe, who grow 
the same crops as you do, these books 
will tell you. If you have any doubt on 
how valuable Nitrate of Soda would be to 
your particular crop, you should get all 
the available information you poesiblv 
can 011 the subject. 
These booklets are 
them, addressing 
free — write for 
25 Madison Ave 
DR. WILLIAM S. MYERS, 
CHILEAN NITRATE COMMITTEE. 
New York. 
— Adv. 
