1 Dec., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 569 
should be applied at the rate of 1 to 2 ewt. to the acre during a period of 
the plant’s active erowth. It has a marked effect on the growth of cereals, 
grasses, corn, sorghum, &c.; but is apt to produce too much straw or stalk at 
the expense of the grain. It is therefore most valuable for the growth of green 
fodder or hay, but not so valuable for grain production. It is of great value in 
the production of vegetables when rapid growth and quick returns are desirable, 
but in this case it is better to use it in conjunction with soluble phosphoric acid 
and potash in order to produce the best results. Used by itself, it is very apt to 
impoverish the land, as it stimulates such a vigorous growth that the plants are 
apt to exhaust the soil of other available plantfoods. Its use, therefore, requires 
judgment, followed by judicious cropping, cultivation, and the application of 
farm manure or a complete fertiliser. 
In the case of fruit trees that have been neglected and run down, a severe 
pruning, followed by a good dressing of sulphate of ammonia—say, 2 to 4 1b. 
to the tree, according to its size—will often produce a vigorous growth, pro- 
vided that the roots are healthy, but care must be taken, once this growth 
_ has been forced, that the trees have a sufficiency of plant food given them in 
the form of farm manure or a complete fertiliser to sustain and continue such 
growth. ; 
Nitrate of Soda is similar in its action to sulphate of ammonia, but at its 
present price, as compared with other sourees of nitrogen, it is too dear to use. 
{t contains a little over 15 per cent. of nitrogen, worth about £7 5s. per ton, 
and its cost is about £15 per ton. 
Sulphate of Potash.—This fertiliser is seldom used alone—in fact, its use is 
only to be recommended when combined with nitrogenous and phosphatic 
fertilisers. A good sample should contain at least 50 per cent. of potash, and 
is worth 5s. 4d. per unit, or about £13 10s. per ton. It is probably the best 
form of potash to use, asthe general opinion is that the best results are obtained 
from its use. 
Muriate of Potash.—Similar in its action to sulphate of potash, and used 
in place of the latter. A good sample contains about 60 per cent. of potash, and 
is worth about £15 per ton, as the potash is considered to be less readily ayail- 
able, and consequently of slightly less value, when in the form of muriate than 
in the form of sulphate. 
Kainit.—A mixture of muriate of potash, muriate of soda (common salt), 
and muriate of magnesia. Its value is due to the potash it*contains, which in a 
good sample amounts to 13 per cent., worth £3 9s. per ton, whereas the price 
charged is not less than £4 per ton. Kainit is therefore a dear form of potash 
as compared with the sulphate or muriate, as not only does the potash cost more 
_ per unit but the proportion is so small that a much larger amount—from four to 
five times—is required to produce the same result. This adds considerably to the 
freight and handling, and consequently renders this form of potash expensive to 
use. 
There is one other form of potash now on the market known as “ Australian 
potash,”’ which contains 25 per cent. of potash and 44 per cent. of insoluble 
phosphoric acid, which is worth about £7 per ton when estimated at its unit 
values. Its price is £6 per ton in Sydney, at which rate it is the cheapest form 
of potash on the market. 
There are two other classes of commercial fertilisers—of which the first is 
superphosphate, and the other a complete or mixed fertiliser. 
Superphosphate.—The manufacture and value of super or soluble phosphate 
was referred to in the previous part of this article, so I will only need to give 
its unit value, which is 5s. 4d. per unit for water soluble phosphoric acid, 
4s. 6d. for citrate soluble phosphoric acid, and 2s. for insoluble. 
superphosphate contains about 17 per cent. of soluble phosphoric acid. 
Complete or Mixed Kertilisers.—There are a number of manures of this 
type on the market, the composition and value of which are very variable, as 
they are made with a view of meeting the requirements of various soils and 
crops, both farm, garden, and orchard. 
pl 
A good 
