Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-05-07

s23 90


Now it is clear that Vermont farmers can
not afford to pay from nineteen to twenty-sev-
en- dollars for fertilizers for an acre of corn
The experiments previously described show
that Mr. Lawes's mixture would frequently
fail for lack of potash, and the large quaint
ties of superphosphate and plaster in the Vile
would not do for us. In the Stockbridge for
mula the chief expense is for the nitrogen
The mineral" ingredients, superphosphate
and potash salt, are comparatively inexpen-
sive. viii they serve the purpose without
the nitrogen?
The first things to be learned are the power
which the plant has to gather its supplies of
food from natural sources, and the specific
effects of different fertilizing materials upon
its growth.
THE FEEDING CAPACITIES OF PLANTS.
Leguminous crops like clover, do, some
how or other, gather good supply of nitro
gen where cereals such as wheat, barley, rye
and oats, would half starve for lack of it, and
this in the face of the fact that leguminous
plants contain great deal of nitrogen, and
cereals relatively little. As a matter of expe-
rience it is found that while wheat usually de-
mands and responds 10 heterogeneous manures
clover does well with mineral fertilizers SUI
perphosphates, potash salts, plaster ashes
etc, and is very little helped by nitrogen
And, what is still more remarkable, the best
evidence we have indicates that after a crop
of clover with its large amount of nitrogen is
taken away, the soil is little or no poorer in
nitrogen than it was before the clover grew
upon it. Indeed. taking into account the
roots and stubble it is richer. Hence clover
is known as a ''renovating" crop while wheat
ranks as an 'exhausting' crop. Often the
best way to manure the land is to grow co-
yer, and turn it under or feed it out and re-
turn the manure to the land.
Is CORN AN ExHAUsTING OR RENovATING
CROP?
Can corn gather its nitrogen from soil and
air like clover, or does it, like wheat require
large quantities in fertilizers Is it especial
ly helped by phosphoric acid like turnips, or
is potash more important to aid its growth z,
The main question is the nitrogen supply.
If farmers who have not enough manure ad-
vance from $40 to S15 cash in the spring for
nitrogen for an acre of corn, run all the risks
of soil and season, and wait until winter for
return, the future of corn-growing is not
bright But if, on the other hand, we may
omit the nitrogen, apply only the inexpensive
mineral fertilizers, reduce the yield but little,
have the corn gather the nitrogen itself feed
it to stock, and thus get rich manure for other
crops at low cost, then corn growing with
commercial fertilizers may become one of the
most potent agencies for the amelioraton of
agriculture in Vermont
EXPERIMENT by COL. MEAD OF RANDOLPH.
Our experiments have something to say
about this matter. One by Col J. b. Mead,
State Superintendent of Agricultural Affairs,
is especially instructive.
SThe idea was to compare the effects of
mineral fertilizers (superphosphatea and potash
salt alone and of the same with nitrogen in
different amounts and forms. Phosphoric
acid was applied in superphosphate at the
rate of 300 pounds per acre, potash in muriate
of potash, $50 pounds per acre. and nitrogen
in nitrate of soda, sulphRte of ammonia, dried
blood andPeruyian guano, invarying amounts.
Phosphoric acid and potash We're thus fur
nished in about the amounts contained in
corn crop of 80 to 90 bushels, and nitrogen
in one-third two-thirds and the full amount
in the same crop There were, in all, six
teen kinds and mixtures of artificial fertilizers
on as many plots, while ashes, farm manures
and other materials were also used and sew
eral plots were left unmanured Cor compari-
SON. The ingredients were applied singly
and two by two, and then starting with the
mixture of superphosphate and muriate of
| potash, mixed minerals" Nitrogen, in va
rious forms and amounts, was added to these
on nine succeeding plots, after which came a
duplicate plot with ''mixed minerals" and
then the farm manures. The season was
cold, backward, and on the whole, i'm Col
Mead's estimation, 'the most unfavorable for
corn in this section for twenty years" The
unmanured plots brought from to 10 bush
els of shelled corn per acre Every plot with
potash gave a fair yield, every one without it
failed, The muriate, costing by the ton,
freight included, S3.3S, brought Al bushels ;
the mixture of this and superphosphate,
mixed minerals, which would cost in Bos-
ton or New York say IS and in Randolph 80,
gave in one case sol and in the other 455
bushels unleached ashes, 60 bushels per
acre. gave 5O2 bushels stable manure 4Gt
hen manure l3t and night soil 3Os bushels.
The effect of the nitrogen was unexpected.
Comparing the plots that had nitrogen in va
rious amounts and forms added TO the mixed
minerals with those that had mixed minerals
alone, the nitrogen complete" fertiizer) plots
yielded less in seven cases out of nine, and il
the two in which there was an increase will