Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-05-06
Commercial Fertilizers, .
Nv York World.

To apply or not apply commercial fer
tilzers is one ottbe important qestions
of the day among farmers ofour older
states who appreciate the necessity
of immediate action in the restoration
of their lands, aud who can not COM
mand farm-yard manure in sufficient
quantity to accomplish this. In many
portions OF the south, especially east
of the Mississippi valley, and in the
eastern states, artificial manures
have been experimental with to con-
siderable extent. Reports from
equally trustworthy sources are wide
ly diverse as to result. One man has
tried Peruvian guano, TOR instance,
failed to receive any benefits tnere-
from and naturally condemned it;
another doubles his crop with its as
suranoe and therefore extolls it. Thus
opinions vary all the way through
the list. N Fe M a~
This difference ofopinion is due
sometimes to the adulteration Of the
materials employed, but largely to
drawing conclusions without consid-
ering all sides of the subject, and
simply proves the imperative neces-
sity of exercising common sense,
both in the selection and application
of the fertilizers. To start with, the
difference in soils should be remeRi.
bered. Land vary widely in their
capacities for supplying crops with
food, ard consequently, in their de-
mand for fertilizers. Some soils will
bring good results for the fertilizers
given them others, unless previously
prepared by tillage, drainsge, irriga-
ton, &c, will r OF. The only correct
way is to ascertain by careful OBJ
seryauou and experiments what q soil
wants, and then supply it. The prov
ident farmer, when he is in doubt in
this mater, cultivate the bulk Of his
crops under the most approved of old
methods, testing in small way as
many new prsctlces as possible until
such time as he feels conf lent he has
found what suits his special require
ments. The results of tue eXperince OF
those who have gone over tho same
ground in advance is not only of in-
teresta but, judlclously considered and
applied, may he of great benefit to a
novice In the use of commercial afer.
ulcers. The American farmer gains
n hint, at least, toward the right III.
rectlon when be learns that by far the
largest quantity of all manufactured
manures In, England is applied for
root crops. There are many dis
trlcts where turnips and swedes
are grown with no other manure
than mineral superphosphate, at
The rate OF three to four hundred
weight peracre. Ga cold, clay soils,
in fair agricultural condition, &C.
cording to DR.. Voelcker, three hun
dred weight of a mineral su perphosph-
ate containing oman average twenty one
TO twenty five per cent, OF soluble phos-
plate OF lime will produce at least as
beay crop of swedes and turnips as
a manure containing in addition to
soluble phosphate of lime, ammonia
or heterogeneous matter. Ga light land.
however says the same authority, the
use of purely phosphate manure can
not be relied upon for producing
good crop of roots. Ga such land
artificial manures are seldom used
alone but generally in conjunction
with dressing of barnyard manure.
Dissolved bones. Peruvian guano, or
compound artifcialmanures containing
from two to three per cent of ammo
MIA are perferred to mineral superphos.
phate as a manure for root crops Oh
high land and on loamy soils out of
condition, by English coultivators.
Nitrate of soda has been used of late
years in England with considerable
in addition to dissolved
bones, or mixture of superphosphate
and guano and some salt as q mix
ture for mangolds.
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