The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-02-14

rlanded 500 each of the two young
lawyers, which they paid to save .hcir
credit. One of them has written to
Gov. Chamberlain asking him 'what
kind Of scoundrel his friend Kimp-
ton is, ,"-N. \. Bvening Post.
Commercial Fertilizers and Cotton,
Will the high, priced fertilizers pay
with cotton at 8 cents per pound :
/ answer no. Will the continual ap-
plication of commercial fertilizers to
Our thin sandy soil, planted in cot
ton without rotation Of crops, materi-
ally enhance the product of cotton or
improve tho soil? l answer from sad
experience of ten or fifteen years, no.
Why will farmers persistcntly con-
tinue to apply them to cotton when
the resattTWill evidently he to their
injurya, ! answer, they are decep-
tive. They give the cotton vigor-
GUS start, and a tlattering promise in
May saa June, and if there is not
plant food otherwise in the soil the
inevitable result is rust or shedding.
| saw in the editorial column of the
Charleston News and Courier an ex-
tract from the Darlington N .ws about
these fertilizers. l adopt his words
as true and good as far as cotton is
The crop. These are his words: "At
the commencement Of the new year
we again warn our farmers against
the improvilent use of commercial
fertilizers. We do not say that there
is no profit in the judicious use of
them on soils already enriched by
homemade manures, but we no say
that their customary application to
our thin soiled and WORKOUT old
fields is the main cause of the power
ty and insolvency Of our farmers.
They arc meant to stimulate fertile
lands. They cannot make soil. The
temporary stimulus they give to q
thin soil only hastcns the utter ex-
hauetion Of it's plant growing proper
ties" The editor of the Charleston
News and Courier pitches into him,
and says ,"The commercial fertiliz-
crs to-day are the product of the
chemical skill Of the age and contain
oil the essential elements of plant
life; such as phosphoric acid, potash,
lime, magnesia, sulphuric acid and
ammonia, 1t is fact well.known aud
easy of experimental demonstration
that judicious use of the fertilizers as
at present prepared, healthy plants
can be grown on absolute sand" He
further says that "the old Peruvian
guano is>Spen to the objection urged
by the wfsers.ps Hero are two edi-
tors writing upon o subject Of
which neither has any experimental
knowledge. The Darlington News
says he expresses the views of the
intelligent farmer. The Charleston
News and Courier expresses the
views of the scientific men of the
present age. Which are we to be-
lieve? If,the commercial fertilizers
contain phosphoric acid, potash,
lime, magnesia and ammonia in prop
er proportions it could not fail TO i'm
prove the soil and produce remunera-
tive crops. I know no Intelligent
farmer who acknowledges that the
commercial fertilizers used by itself
improve his sandy laid cultivated
with cotton. have applied it, 200
pounds per acre, for five years in sue
cession. Result: first year 800 pounds
seed cotton ), last year 35I pounds per
acre. / have used it on new lands
upon which pea vines have been left
to rot with good results. 1t has paid
me handsomely combined with stable
manure, cottca seed and Peruvian
guano. 3 .4 a
From my experience I am forced
to believe that the manufacturers o.
these fertilizers do not put in ammon
ia enough. ] have heard it saiG thai
they make the ammonia out of on,
house cat suffice for three tons. Til;
editor of the Charleston News ant
Courier says that the old Peruvian
guano is open to the objection Of tn,
writer. I, deny this. The old Pc
ruvian guano has proven to be /.
powerful fertilizer for all agriculture
products in every soil and climate
4, AZ