Dried blood, 160 pounds. 
Sulphate of potash, 120 pounds. 
Acid phosphate, 114 pounds. 
This gave an increased value to the crop over an unfertilized plat of 
$60.62 per acre, while the actual cost of the application was but $8.25. 
Where nitrate of soda was used, to the same value as the dried blood, as 
a source of nitrogen, the profit of the crop was not more than two-thirds 
as much as from the application of the dried blood, showing that the 
sodium salts even when not in the shape of a chloride, may have an in¬ 
jurious effect, and refuting the notion that some are persistently advo¬ 
cating that soda can take the place of potash in any of our cultivated 
plants. The soda in the nitrate did not help out the potash at all, but 
really retarded its effects when it was applied in connection with it as a 
nitrate, possibly by checking the nitrification of the organic nitrogen 
already in the soil, while the ammonia in the blood simply promoted the 
complete nitrification of all at hand. In the fertilization of the tobacco 
crop, it is important not only to avoid the chlorides, but the chloride 
of sodium in particular, and to use potash, which is the most important 
element for this crop, only in the form of a high grade sulphate. 
W. F. Massey. 
FARM MANAGEMENT. 
Through the courtesy of Mr. J. F. Jackson, editor of the “ Southern 
Planter,” Richmond, Va., we cull from a year’s file of this valuable paper 
many practical suggestions for farm management during each month of 
the year. The “ Southern Planter ” is one of the most valuable agri¬ 
cultural papers we know. It is a matter of regret that limited space re¬ 
quires condensing the articles from which the following suggestions were 
taken: 
SEASONABLE EMPLOYMENT. 
WORK FOR JANUARY. 
The month of January being the one in which, as a rule, the least 
work can be done out of doors on a farm in the South, is a most con¬ 
venient one for a review of the results of the last year’s work and a 
planning of the work of the coming year. Successful farming being so 
largely dependent on climatic conditions, which vary from year to year, 
it is impossible to lay down hard and fast rules deduced from past failures 
or successes; but these can and do establish principles which have great 
bearing upon future operations, whatever may be the climatic conditions. 
A very dry or a very wet year is prejudicial to a successful crop. These 
facts cause the thoughtful farmer to inquire as to how the moisture can 
be conserved in the event of a dry year coming upon us, and how injury 
from excessive wet can be best prevented if that should be the character 
of any particular year. 
The growing danger of drouth is due largely to the reckless de¬ 
struction of the forests. Steps ought to be taken everywhere and by 
everyone to prevent the unnecessary destruction of timber. Deep plow¬ 
ing and sub-soil plowing is a remedy within reach of each individual, and 
this remedy has the advantage that if not needed to prevent injury from 
drouth, it is equally effective in preventing injury from too great moisture. 
Land which is broken deeply and subsoiled will absorb and hold winter 
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