The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-05-23
AMMONIA, pHOSHATE or LIME, POTASH.
"J. @. H." IN REPLY TQ; ~. w, s.n AND
"LONG ORAEGE.n

hmmoNia' fhosharE oF HlmE, POTASH.
81. @. H." IN REPLY 70 ~. w. s.n AND
"LoNG oRAEGE."
Editor Orangebu'g Democrat:
] have selected the above subject
to convince ".J. VS." and "Long
Orange" that T never intended to per-
manently improve my land and make
paying oERps with Is bushels per
acre of cotton seed. He who attempts
it even with 30 bushels will pay dear
ly for his whistle. We admit that
ammonia is the most important in
gredient in all manurial substance,
buat if not backed by phospate of lime
and potash, we cannot make crops.
In proof of this, I refer the parties to
the experiments of NJ. Vile, which
they will find in the book containing
Mr.. Dixon's letters. They are very
satisfactory. Ammonia is a stimu-
liant. To prove this drop tea spoon
of guano on good stable manure 6
inches from hill of corn, examine
in June, and you will fnd cluster
of roots running in every direction
in quest of other food. That it is a
solvent We infer from our compost
heaps, promoting decomposition.
Scientific men advise us to compost
cotton seed or stable manure with
bone in order that the ammonia may
aid in making good plant food out of
the bone. DR.. Pendleton, president
of the Agricultural College of Geor-
gia, tells US that ammonia unlocks
the natural stores OF potash apd 9th
er undeveloped minerals Of the soil,
and thus renders them available.
Besides its stimulating and solvent
effect it furnishes food chiefly con-
cerned in building up the stalk.
Thirty pounds of ammonia make your
stalk 4 feet high, Is lbs. make mine
2 feet. I would state here is the on.
ly difference between 81. G. H." and
~. w. S." in the amount Of am
monia. We agree in the application
of other plant food and cultivation.
! say to 81. w. S." and his ener-
getic and ambitious brother farmers,
that there is great danger to theiz
over grown cotton drought.
That 10 days drought, when severe,
will cause their huge stalks to cast
fruit, when 20 days drought will only
stock mine with bolls. Mr.. David
Dixon says that the largest weed
never produces the greatest yield.
Our worthy president says apply 12
bushels with 100 pounds of dissolved
bone and 4 loads Of rotted straw.
That you will not get large weed
but tho cotton. Last year he gather.
ed 40 bales from SO acres. Agricul-
tural chemists agree that we can
raise weed at the expense of the
iuit, Friend ~. W. So" I have
practiced with your doses for Is, or
20 years, I understand their effect.
Two years ago changed prescrip;
tions with good results both years.
Come over next August and see the
effects. / have number of expert
ments on foot which l hope may in
terest you. Mr.. Editor, have taken
up so much space with ammonia that
will have to postpone for future
letter what have TO say about phos.
phate Of lime and potash. TO friend
"Long Orange" I would say that ]
am unable to locate you, but know
you are friend. You have troubled
yourself to give ME the yield of the
Stewart farm (sandy land like mine)
by liberal manuring; you arc appre.
hensive that I am starving my land,
and will be compelled to sell to ward
off starvation from self and family
and unable to get more than $40 per
acre. Come over next week, and lei
me alleyiate your fears by showing
you the contents of corn crib and
smoke house and several acres of hal
starved oats, which, according to the
Judgment Of men of age and expert.
ence promises to yield only rs bush
els per acre. j. C. II.