Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-05-26
Commercial Fertilizers.

10 apply or not 10 apply commercial
fertilizers is one of the important ques-
tions of the day among farmers of our
older States who appreciate the neces-
sity OF immediate action in the restOra-
tion of their lands, and who can not
command farm-yard manure i'll suffi-
cient 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 a considera-
BILE extent. Reports from equally
trustworthy sources are widely diverse
as to results. One who has tried Pervv-
ian guano, for instance, failed to re-
ceive any benefits therefrom and natur-
ally condemned it; another doubles his
crop with its assistance and therefore
extolls it. Thus opinions vary all the
way through the list. This difference
of opinion is due sometimes TO the adul-
teration OF the materials employed, but
argely 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 the
fertilizers. To start with, the differ
ence IN soils should be remembered.
Lands vary widely in their capacities
for supplying crops with food, and,
consequently, in their demand for fer
tilizers. Some soils will bring good re-
suits for the fertilizers given them;
others unless previously prepared by
tillage, drainage, irrigation, &C., will
not. The only correcs way is to aseer-
tain by careful observation and expert
ments what q soil wants, and then sup
ply it. The provident farmer, when he
is IN doubt in this matter, cultivates the
bulk of his crops under the most appro-
we'd of old ME hods, testing in small
way as many new practices as possible
until such a time as he feels confident
he has found what suits his special re-
quirements. The results Of the expert
ence of those who have gone over the
same ground in advance is not only OF
interest but judiciously considered and
applied, may be of great benefit to
a novice in the Use o commercial fertl-
lizers. The American farmer gains q
hint. at least. toward the right direc-
ton when he learns that by far the
largest quantity OF all manufactured
manures in England is applied for root
crops. There are many districts where
turnips and seeds are grown with no
other manure than mineral superphos-
phate, a, the rate of three 10 four hun
dred weight per acre. On cold, clay
soils, in q fair agricultural condition,
according to DIR. Voelcker, three hum
dred weight of mineral superphos.
phate containing on average twenty
one 70 twenty-five per cent, of soluble
phosphate will produce at least as
heavy q croy of seeds and turnips as
a manure containing in addition to solu-
BILE phosphate of lime, ammonia or nit
rogenous matter. On light land, how
ever, says the same authority, the use
of purely phosphate manure can not be
relied upon for producing a good crop
of roots. On such land artificial ma
nures are seldom used alone, but gener-
ally in conjunction 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 superphosphate as manure
for root crops on high land and on
loamy soils out of condition. by Eng
lish cultiyators. Nitrate of soda has
been used of late years i'll England
with considerable advantage in addition
to dissolved bones, or a mixture of sup
erphosphate and some salt as a mixture
for mangolds-