Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-03-24
Adaptation Of Fertilizers.

WI - IL J ANilNAf va AtAitiAi'i'f 80 60 ''''
ordering some seed potatoes, kindly writes
From what ! have seen of the VERMONT
WArcmtAN in The past year made up my
mind that it was little above the average
as a family newspaper but allow me to say
that think its value has increased one-hali
for he farmer since you assumed the edit
orial chair Of the agricultural department
Mr.. Fisher add. Can you not give us an
article that will assist us in determining the
kind of fertilizers best adapted to the kind
of soil we may chance to have. without wait
ing to learn by the slow process of expert
menting
1t is only in a general way that such a
very general question aus Mr. Fisher asks can
be replied to. There are certain principles
ia regard 10 fertilization that every farmer
ought 10 understand. bat which very few
American farmers do understand. A hlowl
edge of these principles is a useful guide in
the course of experiments to which Mr..
Mr.. Fisher refers 10y which the detailed
management of each farm and Of each field
of the farm is settled upon. We can but
briefly refer to some Of these general princi-
pies. aud advise all our readers to take pains,
by the study of such books a. Jobnson's
" Hor Plants Feed" and Hop Plants Gror,"
to master them in all their details.
First. as to literature Of soils. They are
usually divided into heavy or clay soils, and
sandy, or light soils; but, in fact, We find
them Of every grade, from a hrick-yard clay
to blowing sand and sometimes upon the
same farm. Stll, the general terms light
and heavy, as applied TO soils, are we'll I'M
derstood In our climate, heavy or clay soils
are best adapted to grass, aud little satisiac-
ton is to be had in working them as grain
farms, or for root crops, until they have been
When this has been done,
they become much better for grass, and in
the long run, equal to light lands for nearly
every other crop. A heavy soil requires a
heavy capital to work it, but when that cap
ital is iudiciously applied, the profit is pro
rortonal. There is difference in clay lands,
and occasionally one is found that is poor,
or poisonous to plants, but AZ rule, they
are much richer in accumulated stores Of
plant food, less easily exhausted, and more
cheaply restored, than light soils. Particu-
larry is this the case in regard to potash, one
Of the three most easily exhaustible elements
of plant nourishment which are found ia all
fertile soils when first subjected to the
plough. The other two nitrogen and phus-
phoric acid, may require to be returned to
clay soil as abundantly as to a sandy ones
but potash ON most clays, with any ra.an
able system of agriculture, can hardly be ex-
hausted. Continuous cropping with potatoes,
sold off the farm, is about the only thing
that will do it.
A man, then, who owns clay farm should
make up his mind to study the question of
drainage and devote all his spare dollars and
hours to the accomplishment of the task, as
the great preliminary step toward the deyel-
opment OF its full productive power. If
funds are low, we must begin upon the field
where it is mos. needed, and where it will
pay the best and from the profit of that
ala af,,r 1ra;,,;,.,, ,o,l. g. ,l,tai,, ...,,.,.
~ droin tho novt 6a1 Il ,;Ias So. -
be had, or one too costly for our means,
,,,o1 dr.in. on, i. mad, v;.i, s,o,,o h.,.h
bond, ~. o,.o,, ,,,.a,,.l n,,t ,,;u l., -
vol, and of,on ias, lifo Elm, rho;.u.
or that of tiles, is only question of cheap
mass and dnr,h;lit, RAT hof,ro hoa;,,;,i.
70 dr,i, snend tbr.e or four douor9 in u,e
,nrcbase nf th. hast l,ooL. u,,o, ,,,o s,,l.;,,,
ami studv Them we'll If nossible yisit -
farm, thot has hoo, u,1.rlra;no1 onI,a,I.
with the ovrar
In ali,otod.y.lontbe r.rtility IF , o,.,.
farm alton ,troiri,o nr nl,il, ,ho 1mi,.;n,,
Is ooino nm wa .honla roI, nno, .a;si,,n 10
lor,,. ,r,,,, IF ,lo,.or a. ,.ossnl. .,l,;.a
mi. rl,nt.f,ol IN tho f,r,, ~ r,rain Ne, ~.
notatoo. ~ nossihle. kaening as mncb 1.-Two
.,o.l. o. noslnJa. hn,,inr ,,,,.l. .;.h e.a.l
o.o,,, hran zoos and IN OVERWHELMINGLY
y, ,o,.ila. an -,
and .a,.;,,,,i i, Ill ...i..l;I
fnllv as nossible If we wanted ~ know IL.
hest practice If o,bor snooosyf,I fa.,no,, ~,
similar land ,,o y,o,,I1 ur;.o - a., OH,
LA c,,.,,.,,,,. IS ~. vi. ,..u,.
L.rs oe a,air ,,,....,,., ,.;...,,...,., ,...,,i.
inc Ioso,,h uarris,, win. al nm. 49,,
tbe rorn, " and ,ool,o ,hoso ..vaIt.' All
TalLs -" richtly study. road;n,, a., a.
Won ID van, RIM ~, cnn1,, a,en anI l..
,,,..i, -. l.,,,- ~. ,..,. Ill ". At.
rsho. zoo want o. ,,,ol,o 81. -, q,
sc ,,o, ,,l;ot, 4. ,l,..,.i.; - a.
la,f ,.,,,. no;,,ll.o., LII
l., ,.roo,;o;,,o ,,ho, = ol,i.ca -, ~.
:. onao,,,n;,,, g.. ,,.;n.a ~ a.. -
nv,
stocl, 10 keen bou, 10 feed !, 10 tha Lo,, a.
,,,n,ano hoo - ,aal.. ,a,a,.l., a.. .al. r
IL or IF ia produce. all th.,. rsoniro in1n.
,rr no,;onoa oo,raaa o.,..,;o.lo -,
lion " pooLs vi,bout those yiu ,,;.n hn,
mn holm h,t w;n, than ,ho, IN os,,a
como =, no,,, all ,.;u, ,,.t i.,..i,.lI. 49,.
nation
In ia. ,,,,ocon,.nt 81 Iioh, lon1 n,..
rr;nc;nlos ORC a,,li,olIa hnt ,r;t, ,,..,.
d;garent 60, If d.t,ns ,Ios.raht Ianl.aro
thopght not n need nn1,r.Ip,ininn Ia,