St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-04-07

cral results, in fact, used as top dress
ing for grass lands it has no equal, and
for this purpose should be more univcr-
sally used by our farmers.
Probably ten tons OF supcrphcsphatc
arc sold in this country 10 every ton of
guano. For grass lands it is not cOEsid-
cred so valuable as "uano. for the reason
that lis ammonia is so easily detached
that large portion Is lost in the atmos-
phcrc before ii can be absorbed by vege-
tation. However, for hocd crops, eSpec-
tally corn, have had better success than
with any other fertilizers, applied direct
ly to the hill before planting. 1t Is true
that some of cur best farmers fail to get
satisfactory results from the use OF COM
mcrcial fertilizers, owing, no doubt, to
the manner in which they were applet
to the crop. The usual practice of drop
pirn Il handful of some fertilizer in the
hill and simply drawing over it one or
two inches of soil, will often damage the
growing crop instead Of improving it,
while il it il thoroughly mingled with
the soil surrounding: the hill for twelve
inches, the extending roots do not then
come in direct contact with enough TO
inlurc the plants. For this reason Il
really cool article has often bee" con-
dCmncd as worthless, while in more care
i'ul hands good return will be received
for the money expended. While | have
great faith in special fertilizers, | am
well aware that the farmers main reli-
ancc in kcepin" up the fertility of his
farm, must be in the bountilul supply OF
GOOD stable manure, both solid and Ii
quid, he annually retains TO his fields from
barn-celars and yards AT the same
time farmers OF even limited experience
will know that the most liberal manur-
Ing on many farms, formerly coed Tor
wheat, will scarcely produce sufficient
crop to return the seed at the present
day, while with the addition OF lime, su-
pcIphosphatc or some other fertilizer that
will supply the soil and crop with that
very quality or ingredient that has been
exhausted by continued succession Of
cropping year after year, good crop
| GILL III StClI Nv w. lllsill tlllli
bushels Of wheat To the acre has been
raised on some of the river farms in this
county, by using composted manurcs and
blowing in crop OF clover, and this on
farms previously considered almost
worthless for wheat.
1t is well known that the farming dis
tricts Of Great Britain have greatly in
creased the productivcncrs Of their farms
within the last fifty years, 10y liberal
and iuliciuuS use ii commercial tcrtlllZ-
cr<, and is there any good reason why
the same results may not he secured i'll
this country
What we seem to need i Il committee
appointed by every County Agricultural
Society in the state, composed OF scicn-
titc men who are well vcrscl in a1rirul-
tural chemistry, AMI who can tell fam
crS by quick analysis. the real value OF
the thousand and one different fertilizers
now offered for sale 10y the vendors, too
anxious 10 oct rich out ut the farmer,
without even giving a fair equivalent in
return for the many thousands of dollars
annually cheated out Of this hard work :
ing class, who are ignorant ri the stuil
they buy till the scanty crop decides the
matter. In the meantime it becomes
farmers To purchase fertilizers Of those
establishments only that have carmel 4
reputation for manufacturing Il genuine
article, also to give their suns who are TO
till the soil liberal education in all that
pertains TO agricultural chemistry aS
well n pra ctical farming.