Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-01-17
=. u. mOsKINs, N. ~, Editor.
USE OF sUPERPHosPHATE.

On t1c nTsb phSe VI thlo iesuo vi tuo II An
uER, will be found the record Of q series Of
apparently very carefully executed expert
ments, by Mr.. Towlc, Of Franklin County,
in which he has sought to test the actual and
relative values Of several well-known brands
of superphosphate. This record is particu-
larly interesting to us, because we have been
engaged in similar experiments, and the re-
suits reached by Mr.. Towle, substantially ac-
cord with our own experience.
That farmers are much interested in the
question of the value Of superphosphates as
fertilizers, is shown, not only by the large
and increasing sales but by the earnestness
withrwhich the subject is always discussed in
the clubs. Although there always aremenwho
freely express their doubts in regard to the
profit, or their distrust of the quality Of this
fertilizer, hardly any doubt its beneficial eff
Feet upon at least some crops. Even among
those most opposed to its use, hardly voice
is raised in denial of the strong growth given
by this kind of manure to the corn and tur-
nips,
One of the greatest hindrances to the sue
cessful use of any partial or special fertilizer,
land such is the admitted character Of nearly
all the chemical or artificial manures,l is the
very common lack Of even an elementary
knowledge of agricultural chemistry among
those who have to use it. Accustomed to
the use of a complete manure, as animal dung
is, they almost invariably expect to find
substitute for it in whatever they buy for
fcrtilizing purposes; consequently we hear a
constant discussion as to whether ashes, plas-
ter, guanO Or superphOsphates are "as good "
as farm yard manures, when, in fact, they
cannot fairly be compared together at all.
The successful growth of any plant re-
qures that it should be supplied with all the
elements of plant food These are contained
in good barn yard manure, and are not con-
tanned in any special or artificial fertilizers.
Consequently, unless the soil already con.
tains all the elements required by the plant
except the one, two, or three supplied by the
chemical fertilizer, more or less complete
failure is certain and this will occur, not
because the fertilizer is of no value, but be-
cause the plant will not thrive without all
its requirements are met, and no abundance
of one, two, or three elements, however great,
or however perfect in their adaptation to the
uses oil vegetation, will give good growth
without the presence OF the other one or two
that are wanting. \ superphosphate alone
docs not and cannot take the place Of farm
yard manures The latter are complete fer
tilizers, the former is partial one, and its
successful use requires a knowledge of when
and where to apply it. The same is true o.
plaster, ashes, guano, the ammonia salts, lime
and even muck. This being the case, oul
readers will see the Importance Of at least
some general knowledge Of chemistry, as ap
piled to agriculture, for every farmer. Tit
young can gain this in the schools, but tn,
older farmers must depend upon books, an(
the instruction to be obtained in agriculture
meetings aud from the agricultural press
unfortunately the latter have very general.
failed TO be of the use they should be in thi
respect because too many OF the agriculture
journals are conducted by men quite as igno
rant as those they assume to teach, upon al
scientific subjects.
Among the books upon agricultural chen
IL - al I,rtilizors III
hest are Professor Johnsons two little mar
ual,, " How Crops Grow and How Crop
Feed" They are not so abstruse but tina
any man with good common school educ;
ton can understand them, and if every on
who buys barrel of superphosphate woul
take rwo dollars more AMI buy one Of the'
books, and with the next barrel buy the othe
unit Siulg them, we do not risk much
warranting that these two barrels would
more GOOD than six barrels used without Il
knowledge to be got from the books.
We honestly doubt the profit Of uslT
largely any expensive special fertilizer, wit
out The proper knowledge of when, wher
aud how to apply It, Plaster may be us'
on clover, superpbosphate on turniPs, We
ammouiated superphosphate on corn, ash
on almost any crop in light land, and gen
inc peruvian guano, sulphate Of ammoni
or nitrate Of soda on wheat, with almo
universal success where the land is otherwi
in good state. But farther than these sill
pie cases, we cannot advise the investment
much money in any of these articles, I'm
after u course Of study upon their natul
and their practical application to the grow
of crops.
The books to which we have referred, a
which we wish that we might hope to ndu
every farmer to study, are published
Orange Judd Il Co., No, 24j Broadwi
New York, and may be safely ordered
mail or obtained through the bookstores
KIND WORDS.