The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-12-28
A Plain Talk on Fertilizers.


fact clearly that they are capable of
supplying plant food to crops, and that
crops can be successfully grown by
| their use. The study of farming as
practised shows that fertilizers are not
being used to the extent that they
ought to be, and this in large degree
because many farmers, mere takers,
and some writers, eternally harp on
fertilizers being not so good as dung,
or as being better than dung. Now,
the sensible course, we think, is to drop
this kind of discussion and come imme-
diately to the real issue. Can farmers
profitably use fertilizers? and, What
should be the principles which should
govern the purchase?
We believe that there is evidence to
show that the difference in price be-
tween the cost of fertilizers in many To-
calities, and the value of the crop
raised by the aid of the fertilizer, is
sufficient to afford profit over the la
Dor used in raising the crop. We know
that oftentimes the use of a superphos-
phate on corn at the hoeing is followed
by an increase of crop amply sufficient,
and more, to pay for the application
and first cost. We know that good
farmers, men who think carefully be-
fore they act, purchase fertilizers year
after year. We know that the tendency
among good farmers is to increased use
of fertilizers, and that now very many
farmers in New England, and in whole
neighborhoods throughout the South,
depend entirely upon fertilizers for
their crop. We cannot disbelieve or
seriously question such evidence in
favor OF the fact that fertilizers are used
proitably by farmers, and it but re-
mains for each farmer to ask himself,
fairly and squarely, whether he cannot
also use fertilizers, and to what extent
shall he invest?
The first principle regarding the use
of fertilizers should be to never waste
the home product. The purchase of
fertilizers should be the last resort of
the farmer; the resort for increased
acreage and increased crops over what
can be produced by the manure of the
farm. If the dung of the farm will go
over thoroughly but five acres, let the
farmer ask himself whether increasing
the field cultivated to ten acres will not di-
minish the cost Of production, and give
more crop to be sold from the farm. If
an affirmative reply comes, then seek
fertilizers to add to your manure thinly
spread over the ten acres, or to use by
itself on the extra acreage. If the lat
ter course be pursued, then there is an
additional value gained-the knowledge
of Just what the fertilizer bought is
doing for this year of use, and whether
it will pay for its use.
Another principle, and a most i'm
portant one for success, is to use fertil-
izers as you would dung--continuously.
Indeed, our own experience, and the
! evidence of others, culled from pub
lished reports of experiment and farm
practice, all indicate that the efficacy
of fertilizers seem more manifest with
their continuous application. One year
application may fail to show a marked
effect, either on account of the season
or the crop, and yet produce marked
influence on the crop of the following
year. We think that the farmer who
should try yearly dressing of fertiliz
ers on small plot, and continue it for
three years even, would be educated to
the point of largely using fertilizers on
his farm at the end of this period.
Then, again, a fertilizer will occasion
ally produce large crop the first year,
and apparently fail the second year;
yet the next year, if continued, the re-
suits will be so noteworthy as to satisfy
that the one years small return was
due to other causes than lack of virtue
in the plant-food purchased.
A third principle is that a sufficient
quantity should always be used. We
know of cases where Embarrassing has
produced good effects and but little
profit, while full dressing would have
given paying crop. A plant must be
well fed to do its best for us. We may
feed cow little more than she needs
for mere existence, and get a fair
quantity of milk, without being enough
to furnish profit on the value of the
food consumed and the labor; little
more food may increase the yield to a
degree which shall amply remunerate.
1t is just so with feeding the plant.
The man who starves his fields is as
unwise as the man who starves his
mich COW. Enough food for the COW
is proper; more than enough is waste!
Enough food for the plant, in the dung
or fertilizer used, but no more! 1t takes
an observant man to strike the happy
mean of plant-feeding, the giving of an
ample, but neither too great nor toe
small supply for profit.
How shall we strike this proper point
for applying fertilizers? 1t seems to us
quite clear. First get the land to its
maximum condition of fertility, then
calculate the amount of plant-food re.
moved by the last crop, and apply this
amount to the field in order to grow the
next crop. This is practical and use.
full direction, which every farmer ought
to educate himself to apply.-Scientifc
Farmer.
The POstmaster-Ge is in re-
ceipt of about one dozen letters weekly