The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-04-19
Action Of Fertilizers.

The value of the action of manure
depends not only upon chemical con-
stituents, and the proportions in which
they are combined, but also upon the
characteristics of the soil in which it is
placed 1t is, therefore, equally as
much necessity that we should adapt
the manure to the soil as to the crop;
in fact to produce the latter we must
study the former. 1t is evident that if
we put potash manure in a soil which
has that substance already in abund-
ance, and which needs nitrogen, that
the money expended for the alkali will
be in measure lost, unless it be so
placed as to come in contact with sub
stances from which it can derive the
heterogeneous element. A strictly nitro
genous manure alone, on the other hand,
is not likely to be of much value in
sandy soil, but if mixed with an alkali
potash, soda, or lime-then it be-
comes actively effective; aud the same
result would come from mixture with
muck Again to dress field with
superphosphate in the Spring which has
been lined the previous Fall, is simply
to waste for several years the value of
the fertilizer. And it is not at all
necessary to use in the same soil both
lime and potash, though there are cir
cumstances under the latter, combined
with a greater quantity of the former,
is of benefit. We constantly hear CON-
plants of this or that fertilizer A
farmer says, cannot get such results
from it as my neighbour did. In all
such cases the cause is most frequently
in the fact that the manure was applied
either to q crop to which it was not
adapted, or that the atmospheric condi-
tons of the season were not ia vOrable
to the development of its value. In
the use of manures all these things
must be studied, else money expended
for them is wasted There is but one
universal fertilizer, and, while we would
urge all farmers to use as much of it as
possible, it is evident that there is not
enough barn-yard manure produced to
fertilize one-half the lands of our coun-
try. Hence arises the necessity for
commercial fertilizers; and, if they
must be bought by our farmers, their
mode of useing them should be such
to get the best results for their money
expended. But too often they act
thoughtlessly, and abuse the fertilizing
principle in the manure.
To act judiciously, the farmer should
adapt his manure to the needs of the
soil, and his crop to the soil thus aided.
If he has sandy soil, he wants almost
all the elements known as fertilizers {;
he must have an alkali to make his
sand soluble, and nitrogen and phos-
phorus for his grain. If clay soil, he
will find it probable that his nitrogen
is needed in the largest proportion. If
wet, sour land, lime and thus he
may go through the list But in all
this his guide must be experience He
may learn much from reading, and will
learn the theory upon which his
operations may be based, and also
learn how this or that substance
has acted in soils resembling his
own. Such study of the experiments
of others will save him much time; vet,
he may, on the other hand, gather but
few ideas of practical value to him,
because of some peculiar climatic con-
dition of bis region of country, or some
different constituent Of his soil. The
plants Of the tropics draw great quanti-
ties of their nourishment from the air,
while those of the North draw chiefly
from the soil, hence the land in the lat
ter region, except in favored localities,
will under the same treatment, exhaust
more quickly and need more vigorous
remedies. They, too, were formed in
great measure by directly opposite
causes, and are now slowly renewed by