The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-01-09
The Earttt.
Using Concentrated Fertilizers in Garden
ing.
BY PETER Henderson,.

From the 1merican 1grieult"rtst.
Whatever kind of concentrated fertli-
izer NAV be used, find 1t well repavs
the labor to prepare it in the following
manner: TO every bushel OF fertliiZer
add three bushels of either leat-mold
from the woods). we'll pulverized muck,
sweepings from paved street, OH
the absence of either of the above
common garden soil. In every case
the material employed must be as dry
as it is possible to procure 1t, " men
guano is used. be careful to have 1t
thoroughly pulverized and broken up
before mixing with the other inSredl,
ents. The fertilizer must be well mixed
with the soil or mold used by turning
it at least twice. This mixing should
be done in Winter, or early Spring, and
the material be packed away in barrels
in a dry place for at least month be
fore using it. The main object OF tins
operation is for the better separation
and division of the fertilizer, SO that
when applied, it can be more regularly
distributed over the land besides this
no doubt the fcrtilizing qualities Of the
leaf mold or other substance are devel
oped by this treatment. Experiment
has shown that this method OF using
concentrated fertilizers of nearly al
kinds, materially increases their value
One of the most successful market gar
deners in our neighborhood has adopted
this method for years, and in extensive
experiments with different kinds OF fer
tilizers, with and without being mixed
finds a saving of quite oDe-third il
quantity in thus treating them. lie
finds that 1900 pounds of guano, mixeo
with two tons of garden soil, and sowr
over the surface after blowing, and theI
narrowed in, is equal to 1000 pound:
of guano used without mixing.
We have ourselves experimental
with guano, blood and bone, and bon.
flour, with nearly like results, and as :
top dressing for grass, we think the
advantage of mixing is even more mark
ed. When fertilizers are applied tt
corn, potatoes, tomatoes, etc, in hills OF
II
mix in this manner, but much safer II
inexperienced hands; for when any
strong fertilizer is used pure, injury i:
often done to the roots by their coming
in contact with it in too great quantity
in the raw state. owing to imperfec
mixing in the hill or drill while, if com
posted as advised above, the danger i;
much less. We are often asked as tc
the quantity to be applied to differen
garden crops. Taking guano as :
basis, we would recommend for all veg
etable crops, if earliness and good quail
ity are desired, the use of not less thar
1900 pounds per acre, mixed with two
tons of either of the materials recon-
mended This quantity is used broad
cast by sowing on the ground aftel
blowing, and deeply and thoroughly
narrowing in. When applied in hill:
or drills, from 100 to 800 pounds Shoulc
be used to the acre, according to the
distance of these apart, mixing with
soil, etc, as already directed.
In regard to which of the fertilizer:
is most desirable, we find but little diff
ference, provided each is pure. GuanC
at $50 per ton, is relatively as cheap as
blood and bone fertilizer at S65; bone
-four at $50, or superphosphate at $40
for in the lower priced articles we fnt
we are obliged to increase the quantity
to obtain the same results, so that the
cost is nearly alike whichever be used
The all important point is the purity o.
the article, matter that few working
farmers or gardeners ever attempt tc
decide except by the results in culture
hence we advise each one who has beer
using a fertilizer that has proved salts
factory, to experiment but lightly with
another until the new article has proved
its merits. The competition in the
manufacture of articles so much in use
as fertilizers, has in many instances
forced down prices below the point at
which they can be produced in pure
state, hence the wide spread adultera
ton with "salt cake plaster and
other articles utterly worthless but tc
make weight. Next in mcanness to
the quack that extracts money from a
poor consumptive for his vile nostrums
is the man who compels the poor farmer
or gardener maybe thousand miles
away struggling for an existence, to
pay freight on the sand mixed with the
guano, or the plaster in his bone dust
In this relation am reminded of re-
tribution that fell on the Sands Of
Life man." who figured SO conspiciously
few years ago in New York The
advertisement of this philanthropic gen
tleman, it will be remembered, was tina,
" A retired clergyman whose Sands Of
Life had nearly run out would, for a
consideration, tell how the "runnine
OUT could be stopped in others. A
kind hearted fellow in Illinois, deeply
sympathizing with the old gentleman
on account of his loss of sand" sent
him by express-but forgot to prepay
a thousand pounds of the article. Ii
isreported that the retired clergyman =
On opening the box, expressed himself
in manner not only ungratefu, bu,
utterly unclerical We counsel no ven
geance, but if some of these sand-mix
ing guano men could have the sand
sifted out by their victims with com
pound interest added, and returned tc
them under the fostering care of an ex
press company, it would be but even
handed justice.