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

An acre Of wheat needs
nAes. sulPA chio- Lim<. Magne Ru.aeA Saicu,
Il b sSs il. mA~ issA aSs IN ms.
By comparing the above table we sec
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 si1ica. 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 Il, and We opine that this is rarely
found to be the case. And to meet the
necessities of the plant, We viii allude to
the supply Of Potash and Soda, which 1t
will be seen by the table above given is the
greatest in amount, reaching to "a lbs. in
an acre Of wheat. Lime also is in demand,
16 lbs. being required, and PhoPhOric
acid still more 40, reaching II lbs. In a
rotation Of 3, 4, or 5 years, 10 bushels lime
are all that is required for each gear of the
rotation, and 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 do. Of Sab, than the largest
quantity Of lime named, for we have BY
the use Of ashes the means Of bringing into
activity the alica 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, vii
effect this purpose, and therefore in III,
application Of manure, we must furnish
these two ingredients, potash or soda, il
sufficient quantity to act upon the sane
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-12l
Ms. for an acre, it win be seen, being re
quired for the Wheat crop. In the ashe
win be found all the inorganic element
required by vegetable life, which compris'
silica, alumina, lime, magnesia, potash
soda, together with sui phuric acid ant
phosphoric reid. In sah, there are soda
chlorine, and frequently sulphate Of mag
nesia, substances all of which enter int
the necessities Of vegetable life, whereas
in lime, when applied alone, except it b.
oyster-shell lime, We get the calcareou
| principle alone. Therefore, in the mixtur
Of ashes, salt and lime, there Is insured t
the plants, all their inorganic constituents
whilst the lime alone dispenses but one 0
| those constituents.
But Il win be difficult in many localitie
70 obtain sufficient ashes to meet the dc
mand in the formula presented-and I
meet this difficulty it is proposed to ful
nish the following substitute for the con
stituents required in the above formuls
viz go lbs pot or pearl ashes, 2 bushel
salt, 2 bushels bone dust, bushel plaster
and so lbs. magnesia, or 100 Tbs. epsor
salts, (sulphate of magnesia.)
Let US now recapitulate rs bushel
wheat, (the amount contemplated to b
obtained on an acre. VIII abstract 29.5
lbs. Of potash, 3.O2 fbs Of soda, 1882 III
magnesiA, 2056 lbs. phosphoric acid, 1.s
lbs. chlorine, and 16 lbs lime. These ca
be supplied by the following mixtur'
which j is believed win be sufficient "a
the present crop, and leave behind enoug
Of the several substances, and PARTICULAR
the bone, to sustain the succeeding crop
Of "a rotation, viz:
| 2 bushels salt, (refuse of the packer
win do.)
| 4 bushels bone dust dissolved in sulphr
nc acid (thus becoming superphosphate.
| II bushels ashes, or its equivalent a
above in pot or pearl ashes and
| | bushel plaster
As remarked above, this formula wi
not only supply the inorganic food neces
sary for an acre Of wheat, but the bone,
without the various substances which
may be presumed were already in the sol
win be sufficient for the future crops of III
rotation. Tito the compound above ther
be added 100 lbs. Peruvian guauo Their
viii then be furnished enough nitrogeI
(ammonia) for the growth Of the crop
i