St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-05-01
Special Fertilizers,

AS yet the experience of farmers with
special fertilizers is limited, not only
as regards the quantity and varieties
which have been used, but as to the
manner Of their application. If we
know what the previous crop has been,
whether a light or heavy one, how
much manure and what kind was ap-
piled to the land for its production.
we can form some idea of the condition
in which the land has been left This
Is matter of Importance to every
farmer, and few are really aware of the
difference IN which the land is left by
different crops. A friend OF ours, who
experiments good deal with fertilizers
manures and different kinds Of crops,
was very anxious to determine the
fertility Of his land as left by different
crops, and had endeavOred to find out
some method by which this could be
readily determined, when accidents
came to his assistance.
On Il portion of the land containing
about three and a half acres he raised
IA crop Of winter rye, ON another part
spring rye, on another oats and peas,
and from still another he had Il light
crop OF hay. The three grain crops had
been fortified with barn manure :;
the hay crop had no manure for three
years. This ground was plowed in
July for hungarian, and a half ton OF
a special fertilizer Was applied, broad
cast, not III the same direction the crops
had run previously, but across them:
on this Hungarian was SUwn, and when
it came up it showed exactly where the
previous crops had been, and thpss.
lines continued visible during the
whole time the crops We're growing
W llen they were mown the crop wis
lightest Wilele the oats and peas grew.
and heavier where the sod had been
inverted The spring rye had a htay-
ler crop than where the oats aud peas
had been, although there had been
two crops OF rye fodder previously
taken OFT.
Now, had four different kinds of fer
tlllzers been applied to this land and
IN the same direction, and different
crops grown had been equally good, yet
1t would have been decided against the
one where the oats and peas we've grown
aud that would have been declared
best where the sod was inverted: and
so with the other two crops, nOtwith-
standing the real difference was in the
drain the other crops had made upon
the land, as the experiment determined
clearly which crop drew heaviest upon
it.
Commercial fertilizers require
heavy outlay compared with the cost
of home made manure, and for which
the farmer is not called upon to pay
out any money; consequently in APP
plying his manure he is not ALWAYS
careful as he would be if he had to paw
cash value direct from his pocket.
With these fertilizers great care ought
to be exercised in their application.
and every condition of the weather
carefully noted. Their action should
be quick if they are what they are
represented to be, but this action will
he largely regulated by the rainfall
during the time the crops are growing.
However soluble the different salts
contained i'll the fertilizer may be, they
will remain i'll the soil inert till there
is water sufficient to dissolve them and
carry them to the plant, and should
the season be dry one the whole of
the fertilizers, in all probability, will
not be utilized during the growth Of
the crop, and the balance. Wien the
fall rains come, will be carried beyond
the reach Of next years planting.
Thus it is we shall sometimes be
found complaining of the almost worth
essness, as we suppose, OF the special
we have used, when in fact
It was the unpropitious season which was
he cause Of the failure of it's success
fully fulfilling its mission. Then again |
we should always bear in mind that
1 heavy outlay of money for fertilizers
calls for extra cultivation of the soil, |
N order that the crops may Lave the |
full benefit of their application
Should we fail in this matter, we may
ind that the result is disappointing,
md we are prone to condemn the fer |
,ilizer for what it failed to accomplish |
On account of our neglect to facilitate |
is operation by good judgement and
liberal assistance.
The habits Of fruit are peculiar; we
nave seen raisin box, fig drum, and
IN apple stand all day on the corner of |
l street.
Mrs. Brown says her husband is such |