The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-08-16

ocid acfd ,gnr ~ = 60, $500
Tins. 2ns. liz. ls ms. isSs. Ans. l21 ms,
By comparing the above table we see
that in every instance except one, the sup
ply of food furnished by an acre of clover
turned under, is more than sufficient to
supply all the demands of an acre of wheat.
The single exception in which the crop of
clover fails to come up to the demands of
wheat is that Of silica. Now as every
field abounds in sand, all that is necessary
to be done to supply this deficiency, is to
apply few bushels Of ashes, or say so lbs.
of potash, to dissolve the sand and put it
in a condition to be taken up by the plants
in liquid silicate form.
But all who wish to put in a crop of
Wheat may not have the facilities afforded
by clover crop, and consequently other
means of fertilization must be resorted to,
if the land is not in such condition as not
to need L, and We opine that this is rarely
found to be the case. And to meet the
necessities of the plant, we will allude to
the supply of Potash and Soda, which it
will be seen by the table above given is the
greatest in amount, reaching to "a lbs. in
an acre Of wheat. Lame also is in demand,
l6 TBS. being required, aud Phosphoric
acid still more so, reaching II lbs. In a
rotation of 3, 4, or 5 years, 10 bushels lime
are all that is required for each year of the
rotation, aud equally as efficient as 100
bushels. Now for the wheat crop in the
rotation, we would rather rely upon mix
ture composed of 10 bushels Ashes, 10 do.
Lime, and 2 do. Of Sab, than the larges.
quantity of lime named, for we have by
the use of ashes the means of bringing into
activity the silica necessary for the wheat,
and which is found in the soil, but which
must be dissolved through the agency of
an alkaline body, before the plants can
take it up; potash or soda, either, will
effect this purpose, and therefore in the
application Of manure, We must furnish
these two ingredients, potash or soda, in
sufficient quantity to act upon the sand
of the soil, and form silicates, they being,
so essential an integral part in the compo-
sition of the inorganic substances which
enter into the constitution of plants-l2l
lbs. for an acre, it will be seen, being re
quired for the Wheat crop. In the ashes
win be found all the inorganic elements
required by vegetable life, which comprise
silica, alumina, lime, magnesia, potash
soda, together with sui phuric acid and
phosphorie reid. In sail, there are soda,
chlorine, and frequently sulphate of mag
nesia, substances all of which enter into
the necessities Of vegetable life, whereas,
in lime, when applied alone, except it be
oyster-shell lime, we get the calcareous
principle alone. Therefore, in the mixture
Of ashes, salt and lime, there is insured to
the plants, all their inorganic constituents,
whilst the lime alone dispenses but one of
those constituents.
But it will be difficult in many localities
to obtain sufficient ashes to meet the de-
mand in the formula presented-and to
meet this difficulty it is proposed to fur
nish the following substitute for the con-
stituents required in the above formula,
viz go Tbs. pot or pearl ashes, 2 bushels
salt, 2 bushels bone dust, bushel plaster,
and 60 lbs. magnesia, or 100 lbs. epson
salts, (sulphate Of magnesia.)
Let US now recapitulate-25 bushels
wheat, (the amount contemplated to be
obtained on an acre. viii abstract 1850
lbs. of potash, 3.O2 Tbs. Of soda, 1852 lbs.
magnesia, 2O.56 lbs. phosphoric acid, 1877
lbs. chlorine, and 16 lbs lime. These can
be supplied by the following mixture,
which il is believed will be sufficient for
the present crop, and leave behind enough
of the several substances, and particularly
the bone, to sustain the succeeding crops
Of rotation, viz:
2 bushels salt, (refuse of the packers
will do.)
4 bushels bone dust dissolved in sulphu
ric acid (thus becoming superphosphate. }
~ bushels ashes, or its equivalent as
above in pot or pearl ashes, and
bushel plaster.
As remarked above, this formula will
not only supply the inorganic food neces-
sary for an acre of wheat, but the bones,
without the various substances which it
may be presumed were already in the soil,
will be sufficient for the future crops of the
rotation. If to the compound above there
be added 100 lbs. Peruvian guano there
will then be furnished enough nitrogen
(ammonia) for the growth of the crop
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