Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-12-18
Formula Fertilizers.

Formula Fertilizers.
Within few years new method of pre-
pairing artificial fertilizers for farm use has
come in vogue. The basis of this method
is found in the supply to each crop of the
three chief fertilizing elements, potassium,
phosphorus and nitrogen, in their combina-
tions, proportioned to the demand of the
crop for which they are designed,- and dis
regarding the probable presence of one or
all of them in the soil. 1t, in fact, disre-
CARDS natural fertility entirely, as too un-
certain factor for practical consideration.
Two notifications of this system contend
for public patronage. One, that of Professor
Stockbridge, of the Massachusetts, Agricu-
tural College, is based solely upon the analy-
sis of the natural crop, and supplies just so
much of each of the three elements named
above as is found, by analysis, to be con.
tanned therein. The other method, that of
the French agricultural chemist, Vile, varies
from Stockbridge's in supplying larger
proportion Of what Professor Vile calls the
dominant" /. e., the most abundant, ele-
ment of the three, found in the plant to be
grown.
The use of artificial or commercial fertil-
izers is so modern a thing that we should
naturally look to see great variance of opin-
ion and practice as to the most effective and
most economical application of such sub
stances. The first notions prevalent about
them among farmers were very crude. Sue
ceeding absolute and contemptuous disbe-
lief in their efficacy, came, often, a too great
credulity among those who saw the wonder
full crops produced by the use of guano,
fshscrap, bone-dust, nitrate of soda, etc.,
etc. The continuous application for sue
cessive years of one Of these was not fol.
lowed by the same success, and then the
accusation lay against them lk4xhaust.
ing or burning up" the land, and max
ing it entirely worthless. Those who stuck
to their first prejudice said, d" told you so. u
Gradually more rational understanding
of the facts took place, and it became known
proportionate supply of all the substances
required by them for nutriment, and that
an excessive supply of any one or two of
them, however genuine and well prepared.
would not give a satisfactory crop. The
guanos, superphosphates, potash salts, and
other fertilizing chemicals must, in short, be
fed to plants in strict accordance with their
wants. This state of the case, when un.
mula fertilization--i e.. the direct supply OF
plant food to crops in the quantity and
proportions indicated by analysis. The fact
of natural supply, greater or less, existing
in the soil, was not exactly overlooked, but
the ground was distinctly taken that more
knowledge and skill was required for max
ing this natural supply available in connec
ton with artificial applications, than could
be found among farmers in general or, moi
to put too fine point on it, that farmers
are too ignorant to use the varieties of plant
food understandingly, and that consequently
a formula fertilizer was requisite, notwith
standing that such method was objection
able on the score of economy. The idea
prevailed that fertilizers should initiate, in
the main, stable manure, with the improve
ment of their being made not only com
plete fertilizer, like dung, but of being made
an exact fertilizer, specially adapted to eacl
crop, which dung is not.
But there was more in both the philoso
ply and the art of feeding crops than thes'
fertilizer makers dreamed of, when the,
elaborated the theory of formula fertiliza
ton. Remarkable exceptions soon becam
apparent. Clover and other leguminou
plants, containing much nitrogen, were foun,
not to receive benefit from heterogeneous fer
tilizers. Experience showed that their de
mand was chiefly for a potassic fertilizer
and, failing this, that substance, contain
ing neither potash, phosphates nor nitrogen
Gus matter, namely, gypsum, or "land plas
ter" wonderfully promoted their growth
A similar state of things was discovered il
regard to the turnip and other cruciferou
plants, in that, though analysis showed il
them no excess of phosphates, yet phos
phoric acid was their special want in tn
way OF food. Wheat also, and other CT
reals, though possessing at maturity n
excess OF nitrogen, yet were greatly serve
by liberal supply of it during the perio
of growth. This has gone on until the e,
ceptions seem almost to outrun the rul
| ,xyhich fnr,,,,la 4.
itself.
The other point of economy, or rathe
a lack OF economy consists in putting int
, the soil various fertilizing matters withou
, knowing whether, or in what proportion
. the soil needs them. 1t seems plain that nc
9 only the wants of the plant, but the nature
ability of the soil to supply those wants, n
, quire TO be considered in any true theor
of fertilization. Farming is, financially col
u sidered, a close business, and cannot tole
}, ate waste of material such as is involved /
\ putting potash salt that costs money int
, land that does not require it for the produt
: ton of a full crop.
u There are two great wastes, then, that ar
e plainly attendant upon the existing method
d of formula fertilization-the waste of appl,
q ing the wrong thing when guided only b
plant analysis, aud the waste attendant upo
9 the disregard of the natural powers of tn
J. soil to supply needed elements to the croJ
d The first waste may perhaps be remediet
h but not the last and that fact must,
: the end, render formula fertilization una
+ ceptable.
d The fact is that no device of the chemi
" can replace, or be substitute for, want
a knowledge in the farmer. On the Who'll
and in the long run, there is little probabi
" ity that any farmer who is entirely una
IT quainted with the chemistry of plants ca
~ proftably make use of chemical fertilizer
n We do not believe that, take the country /
a gether, any money has ever been made OF
~ of them by farmers who have no unde
N standing of their nature; aud we fear TIL
st the effort TO adapt chemical fertilization
the use Of such farmers by the fornu
=. method will have 10 be abandoned
40 abandoned, in fact,-because il will not