The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-08-22
TOPICS FOR FARMERS.
irtilizers. and How to Make Them

f1rt1llZerS, ana now 10 Make lHom
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-
ents of a 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 can and should 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 potash, 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, I take the
liberty to furnish a few formula for
those who desire to take little trouble
and produce an excellent manure at
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 we'll, and spread layer
two to four inches thick on a plank
floor or hard ground. Then put on a
layer of dissolved bone, 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,
spade 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 a 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-
ously. This is especially beneficial if
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 reliable arti.
Gle, say twentysix per cent. soluble, il
one and three quarter cents per pound
generally, making the actual outlay to
a good farmer only about nine dollars
for ton of fertilizer, which, if properly
composted is as good as any he can buy
for five hundred pound bale of cotton
For permanent improvement to his lane
it is far superior, because this compes
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 cotto1
seed, thirty bushels; stable or lot man
| ho, l,,ho 70 a
sixty pounds; nitrate soda, fifty pounds
Dissolve the sulphate ammonia ant
nitrate soda in water, and with th'
solution moisten the cotton seed. Com
post and use as No. 1. This is more ex
pensive than No. l, as part of tn
ammonia is purchased. The sui phat
ammonia cost generally about six, ant
nitrate soda, five and one-half cents pc
pound.
Now, for gray and sandy soil and pin
growth, take either No. l or No. 2, ant
add one hundred pounds muriate potasl
to the ton. 1t is best to buy higl
grade, say eighty per ceut., which
worth three and three-quarters to fou
cents per pound. If, however, tn
farmer will save his ashes, even afte
they have been leached, he can dispens
with the potash, as the ashes are bette
for the compost. Quick lime shoul
not by any means be used in combine
ton with cotton seed and stable manure
as the caustic properties set free tn
ammonia and render both comparativel
inert. Saltpeter has little value as
fertilizer. It is only valuable for tn
little potash it contains, which is one c
the most expensive and unsatisfactor
modes of getting it. Stable manure,
be good, must be kept under shelte1
An excellent plan is to keep barrel {
land plaster-and whenever fresh le
of manure is thrown on the pile to cove
it with thin layer of plaster. Tn
prevents the evaporation and escape {
the ammonia so valuable.