The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-08-04
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the soil in the shape of some fertili-
ger, and the crop grows vigorously
and yields bountifully, we may then
be sure that the added element was
previously wanting in the soil. But
the added element is not stimulant
in any sense, it is food substance
required to complete the nutriment
of the plant, and enable it to per-
torn its vital functions. In the same
manner man requires mixed food
he must have meat, bread, milk,
butter, and other substances, all to-
gether supplying the requirements of
his vital functions, and supporting
his growth. IF one article is def
cient, the balance is destroyed, the
digestive organs are disturbed, and
sickness or death occurs. 1t is pre-
cisely so with plants. But we do
not consider any one required article
of food as stimulant by any means.
1t does not matter in what shape
plant food is supplied, if only it is
soluble. If we furnish it in fresh or
decomposed manure, or in the form
OF mineral or so called artificial
fertilizers, it is all the same. The
plant takes up whatever is soluble,
and the more soluble the manure or
fertilizer, the better the plant is fed.
Fresh manure will be more slowly
active than rotted manure, and this
more slowly available than mineral
fertilizers. because one is less soluble
than the other. And, as matter of
course, the more active and effective
the manure is, the sooner it is con-
sumed and its power exhausted. 1t
We could know the precise quantity
of fertilizing elements which a crop
could make use of, and could be sure
that it would use all that would be
given to it, we could supply that as
it was wanted, just as we might feed
a horse or cow. As we cannot
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much the crop should have fo s !,
maximum supply, we give it two or
three times as much, and what is in
excess of the needs of one crop re.
mains in the soil for another season.
1t is. therefore, necessary in manuring
the soil to use an excess beyond the
needs of crop, and, which is of the
greatest Importance, to supply it in a
complete form, that's, a complete plant
food, consisting of all the elements
which plants require. And it is tor
this reason that the complete artifi-
cial manures are found more useful
than special fertilizers, because the
former contain all that crop needs
While the latter may contain but one
element. The needed elements of
manures are but few, as the soil will
always contain more or less of the re-
quired substances potash, phospho.
ric acid, and nitrogen are the priLci-
pal elements required, but good
complete manure will contain in ad-
dition to these three: lime, soda,
magnesia, sulphuric acid, and chic
rine. AS these are all contained in
stable manure, and it contains moth
ing more than these, complete
artificial manure must, therefore, be
perfect plant food, and not stimu.
lano in any sense whatever, and its
lasting effects will depend upon the
quantity used. Thus, the present
season being the fourth crop taken
after an application of 600 pounds
per acre of the Mapes complete
manure, the effects are plainly appar-
ent as compared with an application
OF 800 pounds per acre. In general,
if not without exception, maximum
quantity Of any manure will be found
the most useful. But to learn what
this quantity may be, every farmer
must discover it by test on his own
soil, for it is not always, indeed it is
seldom, that one soil will furnish
guiding rule for another soil.
L. j. Shine, Esq, found a wild tur-