Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1870-10-28
For the Keo,oce Courier.
Fertilizers.

S'A'o" HoH Jou, you aSh, 'Cau YOU prepare
an article for US. so that tho people may have
an idea, at least, whether they are purchasing
honest fertilizers or not2" From practical
experience, cannot say that can give much
light on this subject, as have comparatively
used but few of the great variety of common
cial fertilizers. Such as I have used, how
ever, when procured at reasonable prices, l
am satisfied have paid for their application,
or in other words, d. no. consider that I
have sustained any loss in their usc
On my last crop Of wheat, used the Char
lesion fertilizer, (Etiwan No. 81 and although
made no experiment to test the additional
yield from its use, feel well satisfied that it
doubled, or very nearly 80, the yield over an
unmanurcd portion contiguous applied
one barrel, weighing from 100 to 1SO pounds,
per acre. had used other fertilizers before
that on this wheat crop, but none realized as
much benefit, except from an application of
from 80 to 40 bushels of cotton seed
have never planted cotton extensively
nor do [ think any one else should in our eli
mate consequently, have used but little of
these fertilizers on that crop. The past winter
and spring, sold several tons of Wilcox,
Gibbs & Co.'s fcrtilzers-the Phonix and
Manipulated Guanos, and their compound of
Guano Salt and Plaster-and, so far as have
been Informed, or have seen myself, the re-
suit was quite satisfactory in almost every in
stance where the manure had been properly
applied and in proper time, Notwithstanding
the unfavorablcncss of the season in many
sections. And with cotton at 18 or 20 cents,
the investment would, no doubt have graft
fed the purchasers. But with cotton down
to 10 or. IL cents, before the crops are gath
cred and disposed of, the result may bo very
different. I planted but fow acres, and
used one bag Goo pounds) Phoenix Guano
to the acre. I left some rows unmanurcd
for experiment; and at this timo, my cropper
Informs me, tho manured rows on each side
are lOO per cent. ahead of the unmanurcd,
which may probably gain something, as it is
opening much later than the manured This
early maturity, from the effects of the manure,
is very important in our climate But when
the manure is paid for in cotton, at present
prices, there will not be much cotton left
Not as much, fear, as will be produced by
the unnanured portion. If there is that
much, it is safe Investment, as the manure
will not be exhausted by the first crop, and
we have an additional amonnt of cotton seed
to apply as manure to our wheat or next crop
But cotton coming down, fertilizers must nc
cessariy 20 the same, or tho cotton planters,
especially in our up. country, will not purchase
for that crop. Should wheat, corn and other
grain crops keep up, the use of fertilizers on
such crops will be more remuneruting than on
cotton, especially in the up.country.
With abundant crops of corn, the small
grains, clover and grasses, we may raise our
own stock Of every description, have plonty
provisions, and be independent of the West.
orn States, on which we are now so distress.
ingly dependent.
If our farmers would depend more on the
improvement Of their land by the use of tho
turn and subsoil plough, turning in green
crops including clover and other grasses, the
raising of stock and realizing therofrom home
manure, it would be better for them than a
dependence on the commercial fertilizers.
Understand late discoveries have boon made
of<quarries of valuable limestone, from which
lime may bc obtained at sufficiently low prices
to warrant its use in the improvement of your
lands. With lime, clover and whcat may bo
raised on most of your mountain lands, where
it has been believed wheat would not succeed.
A fcw years since, I saw beautiful patch OF
small field of wheat, tall and well.fillod grow.
at tho Rev. John Vests, on the Oconeo Sta.
tion road, and some miles above tho Station,
andwas informed twas principally from an
application Of lime to tho crop. 9he field
was on an elevated ridge, thin land but fresh
with vegetable matter in it to bo acted on by
the lime. With the uso of a'sub soil plough
clover would have grown well on that lot.
Respectfully, yours, &c., s.
N. B,--If any of your readers desire .o
purchase the Wilcox, Gibbs & Co.'s Fertile
ers above mentionedj for tho wheat or other
crops, they can bo furnished at Pondloton,
ferryv,lle or Walhalla.