The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-06-15
ComnSfoiai Ferttlixors.
To'apply or not to apply commercial


To'apply or not to apply commercial
fertilizers is one Of the important aues-
tions Of the day among farmers of our
older States Wao appreciate the neces-
stty Of immediate action in the restora-
ton of their lands, and who can not
command farm-yard manure ia sufll-
tient 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 experimented with to considera-
BILE extent. Reports from equally
trustworthy sources are widely diverse
rs to results. One who has tried Peryv-
ian guano, for instance, failed to re-
ceive any benefits therefrom and naGur-
ally condemned 1t; another doubles his
crop with Its assistance and therefore
extolls 1t. Thus opinions vary all the
, way through tho list. This difference
Of opinion Is due sometimes to tho adul-
teratiOn OF the materials employed, but
largely to drawing conclusions without
considering all sides Of the subject, and
simply proves the imperative necessity
Of exercising common sense, both in
the selection and application Of tho
fertilizers. TO start with, the differ
ence IN soils should bo remembered.
Lands vary widely IN their capacities
for supplying crops with food, and,
consequently; in their demand for for
tilizers. Some soils will bring good re-
suits for the fertilizers given them
others unless previously prepared by
tillage, drainage, irrigation, &C., will
not. Tho only correct way is to asccr-
tain by careful observation and expert.
ments what a soil wants, and then sup
ply 1T. The provident farmer, when he
Is III doubt In this matter, cultivatcs the
bulk of his crops under tho most appro-
we'd of old methods, testing in. n small
way as many new practices as possible
until such Il time as he feels confident
he has found what suits his special re-
Quirements. The results Of the expert
cnce of those who have gone over the
same ground in advance is not only OF
intercst but judiciously considered and
applied, may be Of great benefit to
novice In the use OF commercial ferti-
lizers. The American farmer gains
hint, at least, toward the right dire c.
ton when he learns that by far the
largest quaint ty Of all manufactured
manures III England is applied for root
crops. There are many districts where
turnips aud see Is are grown with no
other manure than mineral superphos-
phatc, ut the rate Of three to four hun
drcd weight per acre. On cold, clay
soils, in fair agricultural condition,
according to DR.. Voclckcr, three hun
drcd weight Of mineral supcrphos.
phate containing on average twenty
DE TO twenty-five per cent, Of soluble
phosphate will produce at least rs
heavy croy Of seeds and turnips rs
II manure containing in addition to solu-
Bile phosphate Of lime, ammonia or nit
rogenous matter. On light lind, how
eyer, says the same authority, the use
Of purely phosphate manure can not bu
relied upon for producing good crop
OF roots. On such land artificial ma
nurcs arc seldom used alone, but gencr-
ally In con junction with dressing of
barnyard manure. Dissolved bones,
Peruvian guano, compound artificial
manures containing from two to three
per cent of ammonia are preferred to
mineral supcrphosphatc as manure
1or ROOT crops on high land and on
loamy soils out Of condition, by Eng
lish cultivators. Nitrate of soda has
been used Of late years in England
with considerable advantage In addition
TO dissolved bones, or Il mixture Of sup
orphosphato and some salt as Il mixture
for mangolds.