The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-04-25

/ tpTtS5 CdhrJ Is discovered. without
allowing myself TO go into the ques-
ton as TO which i the b-st potash salt
and why such diss;milar results from
manurlng are observed. ! viii never
theless point out the fact that the uni
yeTsally good results which follow the
manuring with beet refuse press cake
Will serve a. q kind OF guide board for
US; that Il. tina. the present method Of
applying the potash salts broad cast
over the field should be- ~supplanted by
another. viz di-solviDg the salt IN
liquids which are rich in organic mat
ter.
We should certainly expect that "A
solution of the Potash salt in I'll e urine
from the stalls and stables for emam-
pie, would insure a very equal diStri-
button of the potash in the soil, and
in fact in . form better suited to the
assimilative powers of the plant, than
scattering about small CRYSTALS of an
inorganic potash compound. Natural
" this same result may be reached III
other ways, rs for example. b. mixing
. concentrated water solution with
the other manure, OF with the com
post heap and applying 70 the field the
manure thus enriched with potash.
Experience AM personal experiment
VIII point out to the preferable way.
The advantages Of such mixing of
potash salts with the stable liquids
GOTTEN accomplished by farmers by
strewlng the potash about the stalls
are thus enumerated by Frank.
/. The sulphate of magneSia con-
tanned in the potash salts holds ire
tains) the Ammonia and phosrhoric
Acid. 2nd. The too rapid fermenta-
ton OF the urine is prevented. 3rd.
the prevention of the loss OF Ammonia,
and too rapid fermentation make the
n sWccter and more healthy.
18th. The tediousness of scattering
broadcast is obviated, and a much bet
ter subdivision and distribution upon
the field and obtained. 9TH. The cost
manuring with potash is thus lessened,
as the cheaper potash salts, on account
OF the magnesia they contain are bet
ter for dissolving in this mannel 9th.
HE expense for plaster which other
wise would have to be employed is
obVlated. Or. Stammer here goes
on to prove the value of the sugar beet
refuse. and gives the three methods of
applying it usually employed, viz
leading the liquids in pipes to the field
from n reservoir, carrying it there in
barrels, ETC.. OF burning it and then
applying the ashes. The first is too
expensive for general use, and the lat
Ter cruises "a loss IN nitrogen. A. r. L.
IF we ask what quantity of the
above recommended manures should
be used, surely no farmer would ex-
pect Il special, universally applicable
answer and | will only recall the gen
eral rule that is always desirable. if
not actually necessary, to restore to a
field all the mineral elements of plant
food, II from two to three times the
amount of Ammonia removed by the
crop. L Will further remark hat an
excessive application of potash and
phosphoric acid the cost of ammonia
will insure that the above given pro-
portion is not eXceeded). has no iniu-
rious effect upon the beet, at least not
within the limits caused by errors in
calculation, or mistakes III practice.
On the other hand, writers are begin
ming 10 agree that excessive appliCa-
ton will not increase the yield in the
same Proportion. <
SIN speaking of the
purely agricultural part of the work
of the sugar beet culture, l will only
point out the importance, the neces-
sity of deep cultivation, and though
the subSoil, according to its character,
ii1So liz a u . oC III Up. IL UtuSI
be pulverized and drained as we'll as
possible-an d.riom which cultivation
by steam has fixed beyond a doubt
y
81 think | cannot better close this
short consideration of the most i'm
portant points in the development Of
the beet. than by giving the most i'm
pOrtant rules in a brief and concise
form:
]. Be exceedingly careful in choos-
ing your land and your seed.
:. Spare no pains in applying the
manure. For this purpose take into
consideration, not only the debtor
and credit sides of the yield of the
field, but also the compensation that
the ground requires for the constitu-
ents removed by the harvest, and their
proper return in manure
5. A rotation of crops must be OBJ
served, and such fields kept out of the
number used for beets, which show
their suitableness for beet culture.
t. Beet culture must not be on two
largo a scale, when one wishes larger
harvests and good beets, and larger
rather than smaller harvests of grain,
than he obtained before going into the
beet culture.
6. The preparation of the soil must
take place at the proper time, in a
proper way, and with proper tools.
:. The seed should be sown as early
aS the state of the ground and the
climate will allow.
Be not too tardy in pulling up the
beetS.
S. The hoe should be used as often
and as much as possible.
8. The harvest must not be put off.
10. Never cease to observe and
learn.
II. Protect the birds. which DESTROY
the hurtful insects, and wage against
their enemies a ceaSelesS warfare.
This advice of DR.. Stammer is based
upon the experience of German and