The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-20
March on the Farm.

to crown his efforts during the
present yeas, must take an even
start with the season and keep full
ly abreast with his work. On the
preparation made for the different
crops will depend, IN an eminent
degree. the profits of the years
operations.
No more ground should be plant
ed thad can be thoroughly prepar-
ed and cultivated. and we'll manu-
red and this brings It's to the ques
ton of the ''Fertilizer war;" rs it
has been called in the political pa
pers. The question to be consider
ed by farmers is whether they can
use fertilizers at a reasonable profit
at present prices. The question of
the policy of profits of the manu-
facture of fertilizers is not a mat
ter of practical Importance to the
farmer. The question with him is
whether he can afford to use them
at the prices at which they + of
fered to him. Taking into con-
sideration the character of his soil
and his past experience in the S
of fertilizers, each farmer must de-
eide this question for himself. 1t
may be reasonably assumed that
there is no profit in c%ultivating
the average uplands of Middle
Georgia without fertilizers Of some
kind. The vital question then is,
what is the most economical fertlll-
ger?
We unhesitatingly advise the use
of composts, which involve only a
small outlay of capital, and pay a
better profit on fhe investment
than commercial fertilizers, as
shown by repeated comparative
soil tests.
Another way in which farmers
may economist in the use of fertili-
zers is in the application OF smaller
quantities per acre in the drill. 1t
has been pretty clearly demonstra-
ted that from 100 lbs. to $50 lbs.
per acre pay a better per cent On
the investment ard involve less
risk Of injury to the crop in the
event Of severe drouths than larger
applications do. But as we said
before, the farmer must be guide
by the lights before him in deter
mining whether he will buy fertil-
izers at all. If the advantages to
be derived from the probable in
crease in yield of crops from their
use, and the earlier maturity of the
crop are not sufficient to Justify a
reasonable expectation Of a profit
upon the capital, labor and time
had better be devoted to a more
thorough preparation Of tho soil
and cultivation Of the crop, or to
Improvements on the farm !; such
for instance as retaining bottom
lands hitherto too wet for cultiva-
ton. We know of many farms in
Georgia on which the same amount
of capital and labor required for the
purchase and appl. cation of COM
merciai fertilizers to worn uplands,
if applied to retaining bottom
lands now useless, would secure a
greater annual increase of pro-
duction on the farm, besides ad-
ding materially to the value of the
property.
We are satisfied that there is too
large a per cent. Of ammonia in
many of the brands of commercial
fertilizers now sold to risk liberal
applications to our worn soils un-
der summer crops.
SELECTION OF SEED.
Our farmers pay too little atten-
ton to the selection Of planting
seed. On every cotton farm there
should be a small area of rich land
planted in seed carefully selected
from the best stalks of the previous
year. The cotton on these seed
areas should be so planted and Gull
tlyated as to secure the fullest de-
velopment Of the plant. For this
purpose the PLANTS should have
4. uadant room, and not more than
one stalk should be left to the hill.
from this area enough cotton
should be picked from choice
to plant a similar area the
next year, and the balance of that
from we'll developed bolls should
pc carefully reserved for the field