Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-07-22

" of similar substance In another
source Of supply, if only the plant gets
them We repeat the idea in order TO
be understood.
Consequently the farmer must study
values and provide for his crops the
plant food from the source whence 1t
can be obtained for the least money.
DUNG OR CHEMICALS.
Is dung better than chemicals p
Not necessarily. Are chemicals better
than dung? 1t does not follow. II
dung and chemicals will raise the
same quantity of crop year after year,
thea which the farmer wants to apply
is the cheaper Of The two. II SCENE
ridiculous that II five dollars worth of
chemicals will give as good results as
eight dollars worth of dung. that dung
is better or that IL five dollars worth
of dung will produce equal results
with eight dollars worth of chemicals,
that chemicals are the better. A
chance for difference of opinion can
only come in those cases where the
decision lies between a dollars worth
of dung and dollars worth Of chemi
cal equivalent.
We have here the whole question of
purchased manures in nutshell, pro-
vided our suppositlon be tenable. Let
US show that it Is. 10y the quoting of
an actual experiment, which must
tend to convince even the most skeptl-
cal. We will quote results from Mr..
Lawes experiments In Rothumstead :
Hay.
upm1hured plot........,,,. l.32 tons.
Applied chemicals for ton $50" yrs, average
IA tons dung .,.......,,.... 2,39 "
Barley.
unmanured plot....,....... 20@ bush,
Chemicals. 4sH "24 yrs average
Dung ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ASK g" " "
What,
unmanured 1917 bush.
Chemicals. ..,............ SIN Slyrs average
Dung ......,..............,. S5A " " p"
We thus see that chemicals can pro-
duce the same results az are produced
by dung. In the experiments quoted,
we have the average of many years
trials. 80 that the effect cannot be
ascribed TO favorable season, or 9TH
erwise. We must consider it proven
that chemicals can take the place Of
dung. 1t only remains to show wheth-
or we can afford to use one Ia prefer
ence to the other. Unfortunately, we
have not in these experiments quoted
the necessary data for the solving OF
the question of values. 1t is evident
that under such large doses of dung as
were used, fourteen tons yearly
the land must have, in course Of time,
attained maximum of fertility; and
the crops yielded indicated this. The
amount of chemicals used was also IN
excess Of the requirement Of the plant
In most Instances,
Reason tells us that chemical farm
ing must be successful, provided we
apply to the land yearly what the crop
removes. provided the elements which
are applied are kept during the sea-
son of growth in condition 1T for
appropriation by the plant, and pro.
vided they are thoroughly diflused
throughout the land.
Reason also tells us that manure
farming is successful under like con-
ditions OF application.
Experience tells us that with album
dant manure we can raise on the aver
age maximum crops for our land. Ex-
perIeuce also tells US that with an
abundant supply Of chemicals we can
do likewise.
Thus reason aud experience concide.
Practically, however, we have other
questions to consider, and the subject
IL not as simple as at frat sight ap.
pears. Practically, Il Is found, 1t has
been found, that we need apply barn
yard manure containing chemical ele-
ments removed by the crop to produce
the crop. Practically, It has been
found that In many cases where chem
icals wers applied the amount Of the
crop was proportionate to the amount
Of chemicals applied Practically, the
application Of a fertilizer may fail to
produce the anticipated crop Practi-
cally, large manurng will not al
ways produce the anticipated crop.
The condition of the coil and the
facts Of culture have also TO be consid-
cred while we are considering plant
food for in all farm questions like
this we have two sides to our subject.
The plant food must be present; the
plant must also be able to appropriate
IT,. and this latter fact is an important
one. Consider why we can raise lar.
gor crops on sterile New England soil,
by the aid of manure, than they do on
the prairies Of the Southwest, just fat
with fertility Consider the large
yield, on the acreage of England aud
the small yield, an the acreage OF that
golden State which fronts on the Pa.
cincl
WHEN WE APPLY MANURE
TO our land II Ia In large bulk; the
plant food Is diluted with much in
ert matter. The pillow turns under
the mass in Jumps, an d
there II remains, patches Of fertility
surrounded by earth. rhe plant has