Wasteful Excess
May I apologise to a certain valuable mineral, to wit nitrogen. In recording the fact that an experimental crop "lodged " badly after a heavy dose of nitrogen I omitted to point out that such " lodging " may be induced by excessive amounts of farmyard manure, which also may provide too much nitrogen. One of the research workers adds that nitrogen " increases some diseases, such as eye-spot, but reduces others such as take-all," and adds this most essential truth, that " sound rotation is the best method for controlling foot and root-rotting diseases of wheat." It seems to be the experience at Rothamsted that spraying with sulphuric acid in early spring (for which excessive virtues have been claimed) has not yet proved its value. The method is still in the experimental stage.
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