The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-08-31
TOPICS FOR FARMERS.



Fertilizers, and How to Make Them
at hOme.--A correspondent of prom
inent agricultural publication gives the
following excellent suggestions on the
subject of fertilizers: The true policy
for every farmer is to make his fertil-
izers at home, and to do this he should
understand something of the constitu-
EMS of good manure. They are, at
most, three elements, and often only
two. The first and most expensive is
ammonia, which produces a vigorous
growth of the plant. This article every
good farmer tan and shodld supply
from the farm. Cotton seed and well
preserved stable manure furnish it
abundantly, and in the best form. The
second is phosphoric acid, which makes
the fruit, and the third is pota.h, which
is required only in certain soils, to in
crease the effect of the two first. Hav-
ing had quite large experience with
fertilizers in various WAYS, l take the
| liberty to furnish a few formula for
those who desire to take little trouble
and produce an excellent manure at a
very low price Now, for red and clay
soils, oak and hickory growth, take:
Dissolved bone, five hundred pounds !;
green cotton seed, thirty bushels; stable
manure, good, five barrels Moisten
the cotton seed well, and spread layer
two to four inches thick on a plank
floor or hard ground. Then put on a
layer of dissolved ne, then one of
stable manure, and begin again with
another layer of cotton seed, and so on.
Keep under shelter for month, or
until wanted for use, and in moving,
space directly through the heap, that it
may be more thoroughly mixed.
For cotton, use the whole on six to
seven acres, and corn, seven to eight
acres. For cotton good plan is to bed
on the most of it, reserving portion to
put in with the seed at the time of
planting, to start the plant off vigor-
the spring is cold and late. 1t will
be noticed in the above that only
one article is to be purchased from the
commercial world, namely, the dissolved
bone. The cash price of a reliable arti-
Gle, say twenty-six per cent. soluble, is
one and three-auarter cents per pound,
generally, making the actual outlay to
a good farmer only about nine dollars
for a ton of fertilizer, which, if properly
cemposted is as good as any he can buy
for five hundred pound bale of cotton.
For permanent improvement to his land
it is far superior, because this compost
restores the vegetable matter, while the
manipulated guanos exhaust it. If the
stable manure has been left in the
weather, and is not good, take dissolved
bone, six hundred pounds; green cotton
seed, thirty bushels; stable or lot man
ure, five barrels; sulphate ammonia,
sixty pounds; nitrate soda, fif pounds
Dissolve the sulphate ammonia and
nitrate soda in water, and with the
solution moisten the cotton seed. Com
post and use as No. l. This is more ex.
pensive than No. /, as part of the
ammonia is purchased. The sulphate
ammonia cost generally about six, and
nitrate soda, five and one-half cents per
pound.
Now, for gray and sandy soil and pine
growth, take either No / or No. 2, and
add one hundred pounds muriate potash
to the ton. 1t is best to buy a high
grade, say eighty per ceut., which is
worth three and three-quarters to four
cents per pound. If, however, the
farmer will save his ashes, even after
they have been leached, he can dispense
with the potash, as the ashes are better
for the compost. Quick lime should
not by any means be used in combina-
ton with cotton seed and stable manure,
as the caustic properties set free the
ammonia and res der both comparatively
inert. Saltpeter has little value as a
fa fil 7ar II 10 nplv NO luoh lo for m %
little potash it contains, which is one of
the most expensive and unsatisfactory
modes of getting it. Stable manure, to
be good, must be kept under shelter:
An excellent plan is to keep barrel of
land plaster-and whenever fresh lot
of manure is thrown on the pile to cover
it with thin layer of plaster. his
prevents the evaporation and escape of
ammonia and other gases which render
the ammonia so valuable.