44 HINTS ON SOILS AND FERTILIZERS 
Nitrogen is restored to the soil, we have 
learned, by means of raising leguminous crops, 
and this is especially true when these crops 
are turned under. Also, there is a good sup¬ 
ply of nitrogen in the barnyard manure when 
applied to the land. But often, as has just 
been stated, over half of this is lost through 
careless handling of the manure, and, further¬ 
more, there usually is only enough manure 
on the ordinary farm to cover but a small 
area of the farm each year. Therefore, if we 
are to obtain the highest production from our 
land, we must plan to add this nitrogen in a 
commercial form. 
Nitrate of soda is one of the most popular 
forms of commercial nitrogen fertilizer. This 
form of nitrogen is very readily available as a 
plant food, and because of this fact, it is usu¬ 
ally applied at different intervals, rather than 
all at once, because it readily leaches out of 
the soil. This fertilizer is usually applied at 
the rate of 200 to 300 pounds per acre. 
Ammonium sulphate, cotton seed meal and 
dried blood are often used as a source of nitro¬ 
gen, especially the ammonium sulphate. These 
forms of nitrogen are not as easily available 
as the nitrate of soda; therefore, results will 
not be noticed as quickly w r ith these forms as 
with the soda compound. 
Acid phosphate is the most readily avail¬ 
able florin of the phosphorus fertilizer. This 
is usually applied on the land at the rate of 
from 200 to 500 pounds to the acre. Another 
form of phosphate is the rock phosphate, which 
is merely ground up rock containing a high per- 
