Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-04-30

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and answer will be made either In future articles
NJ h BucKulu, President
wHTN AND vHERT To usT THEsT rTET1IIzEH-.
As our experiments general experience,
and sound science show soils. crops and 9th
er conditions differ. and each man must study
his OWL. Nevertheless there are some gener-
al fact. that help in deciding what fertilizers
ore best
TEET11IzEBs FoB CORN.
In the experiments with corn nitrogen
was rarely the potash salt often, and super
phosphate generally profitable. where soil
and season were such Go permit good
growth with any manure. On the average
the most profitable mixture used for corn has
been three hundred pounds Of superphos.
phate dissolved bone black or other mineral
superphosphatt and $50 pounds Of muriate
Of potash. AT So per ton for superphos-
phate and $40 per ton for the muriate this
would come to S2.25. to which mus; be ad-
ded cost Of freight and applying II the ay-
erage OF & number Of special experiments
not described IL the previous articles this
has brought 30 bushels OF shelled corn. Ad-
diuou Of nitrogen mas increased the yield
somewhat but generally not enough 10 pay
the cost mixture Of 80 to POO pounds Of
muriat. Of potash and 500 10 4oU pounds Of
nus bone dust has also given eNcelleu; results
with corn
[ Mess the unanimous testimony OF the c1-
periments is false Vermont farmers CAL add
greatly TO tine fertility Of their held. and the
profits OF their farming il instead Of buying
Western corn they viii raise IL with such
helps as we shall hereafter take occasion to
explain il more detail
FErrILIzEE- roE roIA1oE, AMI ruENu-.
Potatoes have responded well to all the il
gradients nitrogen phosphouc acid. and
potash. The complete fertilizers have been
the most profitable IL nearly all tn cases
where soil and weather were not too adverse
The mixture Of 800 pounds superphospAatt
200 pounds muriate Of potash. and 800
pounds nitrate Of soda. costing about $3.50.
has brought al average yield Of 100 bushels
and IL some cases over 800 bushels about
double the product without manure. Nitro
gen could be furnished NOR, cheaply IL SUI
phaie OF ammonia or dried blood. than IL the
uitrat. Of soda Peruvian guauo would prob
ably be better still to supply nitrogen and
p1ospnoric acid Fish would serve the same
purpose
The experiments with turuips have shown
the best results with the com plete fertilizer
though they responded well to tie superpnos-
pnAte IL every cas-. But they are Us yet too
lew however for reliable inference. Still
they accord with the common impression that
makes p1osphoric acid il tn, form Of super
phosphate and boue.dusi almost specific
iur turuips
FEETILzEE- TOR GEAIS AMI. GRASS CROPS.
For wheat oats rye and barley general
experience favors nitrogen and pAosphor!l
acid. though potash Il frequently profitable.
Peruvian guRno fish bone superphosphates
and sometimes potash salt az apt 10 De
profitable. For grass land, bone superphos-
pilates and often potash salts are found USE
ful Clover Is especially benefited by potash
and gets little good from nitrogen. Some
times q heterogeneous fertilizer like sulphaie o.
Rmmonis Is excellent as a top-dressinp IL
spring 10 force backward crop OF grass OF
grain The old pastures and meadows Of our
dairy farms are very commonly deficient IL
phosphRtes Bone supplies tbs lack cheaply
1t is SLOW and lasting il its action and hence
particularly good for seeding down 10 grass.
QUANTITIES or COMMERCIAL FEETIIIzEEs TO
UsL
The amount that cal bt probably used
vAries, Of course with circumstances. From
100 to 30 pounds OF potash salt, 25O 10 400
pounds Of superphosphate, 800 to coo pounds
OF bone dust POO to 800 or 4OO pounds OF Pc
ruyiau guano l5u to 20O pounds OF dried
blood or nitrate Of soda. and 100 10 80
pounds Of sulphatr of ammonia arr moderate
dressings pei acre. Where several articles
are used together. somewhat les OF each
would naturally be applied than where they
are employed separately When USED witt
farm manure still smaller quantities suffice,
Two hundred pounds Of superphospLate, OF
100 pound, OF muriate Of potash dc very
well TO supplement dressing Of s,all- ma
uurt Indeed on farms removed from the
larger markets III, j. usually the best way 10
employ such costly materials, They furnish
plant food ready for immediate Use and thus
the crop Is apt 90 get better starr, ripeu tar
her. and be- larger thai with farm manure
alouy A moderate excess OF the fertilizer
above the demands Of the crop doe it no
harm unless it is concentrated too clostl y
about the roots The absorptN, power Of
most soil- sufhces 10 retain most OF the phos-
phorc acid and potash until they are used by
plants, but nitrogen Is exposed TO more or
less rapid loss 10y being leached away by
drainage water forming inert compound il
the soil, or escaping into the AN i the
phosphate and potash sslts therefore, are
not taken ny by the hrst crop. the soil will
usually hold them for succeeding ones. while
more OF less OF the nitrogen will run 10 waste
HOW 10 APPLY COMMERCIAL TEE-ILIzEEs.
III, safest way Is TO apply broadcast but
they may be put IL the hill OF drill provided
they aru well dInused through the sol. This
last point is very important
Farmers are apt to think the manure must
Doe put close 10 the seed OF the plant will not
get the benefit Of H. This is wrong Il ls
not the just terminated plantlet that needs
the manure but the plant, from. the time it
i- well started until Its growth is done We
want, not only 10 give the crop good STAR;
but 10 help il ont Oh tie home stretch a. wei.
The roots and their branching rootlets run
Out IL al directions IL search OF food and
Tie fertilizers ought 10 be wAer, a. many Of
The rOotlets as possible can get al them II
we distribute the fertilizers As well as We can
The water il the soil aided by the cLemica
ana physical forces that nature keeps IN op
Grafton, viii do IN, resi- In illustration OF
thls remember how well barn manure act
when applied a top-dressing long beior,
the seed is put IL
But II We concentrate the fertilizer IL one
place, fewer roO,s viii get them, and thes,
may be injured 10y coming IL contact viii