New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-04

which enters infinitely but necessarily into the CON-
position of every animal and nearly every vegetable
structure, has been gradually drawn away in Grain
IN Milk in Bones and not restored TO the soil by the
| application of ordinary manures. / am convinced
that field may be MANFRED as 10 grow three tuns
Of Hay per acre, yet destitute of Phosphorus that
a sound healthy animal cannot be grown therefrom.
For two centuries the tillers of Westminster County
knew nothing of Chemistry or Phosphorus, and al
lowed the unvaued bones Of their animals TO be ex-
ported to fatten British meadows without an effort
to retain them. Hence, it has become absolutely
essential that we buy and apply Phosphates. even
though the price be high for land can no longer
do without them. Wherever a steer or heifer can
occasionally be caught gnawing or mumblng over
an old bone, there Phosphates Indispensable no
matter at what cost. Better pay 800 per tun for
dressing of one hundred pounds of Bone per acre
than try TO do without.
But no lands recently brought into cultivation
no lands where the bones Of the animals fed thereon
have been allowed, for unnumbered years past TO
ngle with the soil-can be equally hungry for
PhOsphates and doubt that any cotton-feld in the
South viii ever return outlay of even so per tun
for any Phosphate fertilizer whatever. That any
preparation of Bone or whereof Bone is principal
element, viii increase the succeeding crops is IN
doubted; but that it will ever return its cost and
my satisfaction.
No doubt there are special cases in which the ap-
plication even of Peruvian Guano at $50 per tun is
advisable. A compost of Muck. Lime, &c. equally
efficient, might be far cheaper; butmonths would be
required to prepare and perfect it, and meantime
the farmer would lose his CROP or fail to make one
If a tun of Guano or of some expensive Phosphate,
viii give him six or eight acres of Clover where he
would otherwise have little OF none and be needs
that Clover TO feed the team wherewith be is break
ing up and fitting his farm to grow good crop next
year, he may wisely make the purchase and applca-
ton, even though he may be able TO compost for
next years twice the value of fertilizers for tho
precise cost of this. But l am SO thorough in my
devotion to home industry that hold him an un-
skllful farmer whe cannot nine times in ten make,
mainly from materials 10 be found or near his
farm, pile of compost for 500 that VIII add
more 10 the enduring fertility of his farm than any
thing he can bring from distance at a cost Of $50.
Understand that this is general rule and subject,
like all general rules, TO exceptions. Gypsum. l
think every farmer should buy; Lime also, If his
soil needs it, Phosphates in some shape, if past ig-
norance or folly has allowed that soil TO be despoed
Of them; Wood Ashes, if any one can be found so
brainless to sell them Mari Of course, where it is
found within ten miles; Guano very rarely, and
mainly when something is needed to make crop be-
fore coarser and colder fertilizers can be brought
into condition Of fitness for use but the general
rule l insist is this: good farmer viii, III the
Of twenty OF thirty years, make at least SO
worth of fertilizers for every dollars worth be buys
from any dealer unless it be thesweepings other
excretions Of some not distant city.
have used Guano frequently, and, though II has
generally made its mark never yet felt thar 1t
returned me profit over its cost. Phosphates have
done better especially where applied 10 Corn IN the
hl either at the time Of planting OF later yet ms
strong impression is that Flour Of Bone, applied
broadcast and freely especially when Wheat or Oats
are sown on a field that is to be laid down 10 Grass
pays better and more surely than anything else l
order from the City, Gypsum, and possibly Oyster
Shell Lime, excepted
Ny experience can be no safe guide for others,
since it is not proved that the anterior condition and
needs Of their soils are precisely Ike those of mine
apprehend that GuanO has not had a fair trial on
nv ulace-that careiessness in pulyerzng or II ap
plication has caused it TO waste its sweetness
the desert air." OF that a drouth following its appl
cation has prevented the due development Of its viz
tues. And still my impression that Guano is the
brandy Of vegetation, supplying 10 plants stimulus
rather than nutrition Is so clear and strong that II
NAV not easily be efaced. 1t seems to me plainly
abs1r6 20 send ten thousand miles for this stmulant
when this or any other great city dhntaDy PolsopS
Us own atmosphere and the adjacent waters VIII
excretons which are Of very similar character and
yalue. and which Science and Capital might com
bine 10 utilize at less than half the cost OF Ike ele-
ments in the form Of GuanO
Nv object in this paper is to incte experiment and
careful observation. No farmer should absolutely
trust aught but his own senses Rhode Islander
once assured me that he applied to four Of thin
satv gravel one hundred pounds per Of Nitrate
of Soda which cost him - per hundred, and OBJ
tanned therefrom four additional tuns Of good Hay,
worth SIS per tun: Net profit after allowing for the
cost of making the Hay, say so. He might not be
so fortunate on second trial, and there may not be
another four acres Of the earth's surface where
Nitrate Of Soda would do so well; but, should ever
have a fair opportunity. mean to see what little
of that Nitrate viii do for me. And hope farmers
nav more and more be induced to conform in
practice to the Apostolic precept Prove al things
Hold fast that which is good No ones success or
failure in a particular instance should be conclusive
with others because Of the infinite diversity of ante
cedent and attendant circumstances; but if every
thrifty farmer would give TO each Of the commercial
fertilizers-I.ime. Gypsum. GuanO. Raw Bone, PhOs-
uhates Ashes Salt Mari. &c-such careful trial as
be might observing closely and recording carefully
the results we should soon have mass Of facts and
results. wherefrom deductions might be drawn of
signal practical value 10 the present and to future
generations.
XXI