The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-11-01

potash, or at least in such small
quantities as to be non-effective or
land that is deficient in this article
We would recommend using about zoe
pounds per acre of the sulphate of pot
ash the first year; and on the land
planted with strawberries, would adj
wise getting the potash on the soil
and working at as early date as pos
sible. 1t requires about 30 days fol-
the potash to begin to take effect, and
results will be SHOWN for year after
being applied.
There are a few points to be re
membered in relation to fertilizers and
the farmer who has a comprehensive
grasp of what each kind will do and
what lands require a particular Ind
of fertilizer, VII. be able to treat his
land intelligently. In all forms of fer
tilizers there are three essential ele
nents. any one of which being lacking
the full value of the others cannot be
had. These necessary elements are
potash, nitrogen and phosphoric acid
and every complete fertilizer, to be oil
value, must have those three elements
present in some form. On the Pacific
Coast potash is to be had in only one
form, that of potash salts. There are
three kinds of these, l. e., KANT, murl
ate of potash and sulphate OF potash
Wood ashes also contain available pot
ash but these are not used CONNER
cially because it costs more to gather
and apply them than the potash can
be bought for in the form of potash
salts. The function of potash is to
produce fruit 1t is very essential
item, particularly on land west OF the
Cascade range, which section is very
deficient in this element The use OF
potash on the soil will give heavier
and better yield. For instance, when
used on hops the crop will have bet
ter color and be much heavier in
weight. On strawberries and other
small fruits the berries will be much
larger and have better color On
potatoes and root crops the yield will
be very largely increased and the
quality will be improved.
Nitrogen is also an essential ele-
ment in any complete fertilizer 1t
produces the leaf and the stalk OF the
plant. 1t is the most volatile OF the
three elements and, therefore, must be
applied every season. 1t is required
in almost all soils, except where crops
of clover, peas, or other legumes are
being or have been grown. Nitro
gen is derived from nitrate OF soda,
fish guano, dried blood and few other
sources by those who make CONNER
cial fertilizers.
Phosphoric acid has the peculiar
function of helping the plant to make
full use of the nitrogen and potash,
whether they be already in the soil
or applied with the other ingredients
While this is necessary element
yet it is not as. conspicuous by its
absence in our soils as either of the
other essential elements. Yet, strange
to say about the first thing the av-
erage person thinks of applying to the
soil when he wants fertilizer is bone
meal, which is practically nothing but
phosphoric acid. Hence the need OF
knowing fully what the soil requires
for some particular crop and getting
the right proportion of the various
elements that make up complete fer
tilizer.
In every section there will be found
spots where the soil has tendency
to become sour. This applies to most
of the soils west of the Cascade noun
tains. Lime sweetens the soil and
makes available those elements which,
without it's use, usually remain in the
soil as an unavailable compound.
The reliable firms that make com