Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-01-08
agricultural.
From We I0VUWV
strpERpHOsPHATE OF LIME.


SUPERB OF LIME.
A short notice in this journal for Nov. q,
mentions the value Of superpbosphete for re-
pelline grubs from garden beds, as used by
lanes Wood Of Mount Kisoo, n. Y. The
notice was too brief for foil explanation, and
should have stated that this fertilizer had been
found too expensive for profitable use a. a
Oeneral fertilizer. We take pleasure in laying
the following communication from MI WOOD
before our readers, in explanation OF this sub
iect, containing as it does the results OF aceuf"
ate experiments
EDS Co. GEST.--lu your editorial notice,
Nov. u, Of my use Of Goes Superphosphate
Of Lime for repelling grubs from cotn.hills,
&c, you give an erroneous impression In re-
gard TO my estimation of the value OF the sup
erphosphate for other purposes.
Ofthe value OF a good superphosp hate-and
such have found Goes to be-thete can be
no question but there is a question Of the
profit Of using it for general purposes, because
it is so expensive. For permanently incfeas-
ing the fertility Of soils, and for the special
benefit Of particular crops whore coa5ser man
ure will answer, farmers must use something
costing less than such commercial tgrulizers.
/ do not believe it will pay 10 use superphos-
plate as dependence for furnishing the food
for a crop Of corn or wheat OF potatoes or
grass, and yet have found 10 70 pay we'll
when used il small quantity on corn, beside
the repelling of the grubs, which heretofore
have caused me seriohs injury where this grain
has been planted on old timothy sod But it
did it not by furnishing the rich supple. for
the grain, but by nursing the young and deli
cate plants into early vigor and strength, 20
that they were all Away up to,or li,tle ahead
Of the season, and could thrust out strong
hands to gather in the needed supplies, and
devour them with eager appetite, and digest
them thoroughly, ana use them TO effect Thus
little superphosphate will do, but coarser
and cheaper manures should furnish these
supplies for the strong plants. ltls the good
old principle Of " milk FOX babes and mea. ilr
men" Probably there wouldn't be much
meat needed if milk we're not hrst used. SO a
little nursing to the young plant enables IL to
turn much coarse manure into valuable gram,
or to extract the existing richness frJm the
soil for this purpose, than IL could do # allow
ed to struggle through the teebeness OF youth
unasssied. Now this rule may hold good for
all plants, but do not iieve Il wall pay TO
use such costly fertilizers on any crop bu,
corn, for none other is 80 limited in It's time.
Corn has big work to do 10 little while
and, to use railroad expression, t,must be
on time" Other plants can more easily and
slowly grow into their strength aud accom-
plish their work.
Now for the practical bssis for my belief
have oft experimental with superphosphaie
but never before so accurately as, in the past
season. A small quantity--at the rate of a
ton to ten acres-was applied TO the corn hills
at the time Of planting, except on portion of
the field where the soil was conuderod as
good as any. The phosphated corn, grew
strongly and rapidly from the beginuing--the
appropriated was for long time yellow and
feeble, in contrast. and fully two weeks behind
through sthe season. The difference in yield
was 20 per cent, or 10 IL bushels shelled
corn TO the acre, making l05 bushels to the
10 acres. Corn is worth here SLIGO, so that
the increased yield produced $l6s
Cost one ton superphosphate, $50
Labor Of application,