Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-26

] duI.
Farmers are apt to think the manure
must be put close to the seed or the plant
or they will not get the benefit of it. :"
This is wrong. 1t is not the just ger
minated plant that needs the manure.
but the plant. from the time it is well
started until its growth is done. We
want, not only to give the crop a good
start, but to help it out on the home
stretch as we'll. The roots and their
branching rootlets run out in all direc-
tons in search of food, and the fertiliz-
ers ought to be where as many of the
rootlets as possible can get at them. If
we disturb the fertilizers as we'll as
we can, the water in the soil aided by
the chemical and physical forces that
nature keeps in operation, will do the rest.
In illustration of this, remember how
bafn-manure acts when applied as top
dressing long before the seed is put in.
But we concentrate the fertilizers in
one place, fewer roots will get to them,
and these may be injured by coming in
contact with them or with their concen-
trated solutions in the soil. The roots
will find they way to the manure and de-
velOpe more where it lies, it is true, still
we should not oblige them to huddle to-
gether in one place, but should rather
encourage them to spread around, where,
with increased capacity the fertilizer
gives them, they can get the more from
the soil. Roots join with other natural
agents in rendering inert stores of plant
food available
Above all, do not let the fertilizers
come to close to the seed. A coarse,
dilute material like yard manure may do
the plants no harm, but each conceDtra-
ted fertilizers as guano, potash salts,
dried blood, or high grade superphos-
phate may kill them"
Some of the best results in the expert
ments have come where the fertilizers
were spread broadcast over space eigh-
teen inches or two feet wide along the
row. If they are to be put in the hill
or drill they ought to be first mired
aOih three or four times their bulk of
mellon earth. If the latter is rich in
vegetable mould, so much the better.
Most sawdust or muck may be used in
place of the earth, ifmore convent,
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
Mr.. D. B. Wheelock, of Barre, has
joined with a neighbor in buying sui
phate of ammonia, supherphosphate and
muriate of potash. They inquire.
L. "Is any chemical with these p
Answer, no these furnish nitrogen, phos.
phoric acid, and potash and make a
complete fertilizer" But unless you
have found that your soil wants all Of
these ingredients you may be using
some at loss.
2 "Shall we apply them separately
or mixed ?" AS is most convenient. Prob
ably labor will be saved by mixing vel
upon the barn floor before applying
Only if large amount of the potash
salt is to be used it would be we'll to apply
it some weeks or months before the seeC
is put in, so that it may get we'll diffus-
ed through the soil.
3. "How much of each shall we use
per acre? ?" AS said above, 100 to Isl
pounds of sulphate of ammonia, 200 t.
400 pounds supherphosphate and lO(
to 200 pounds muriate of potash, ar,
fair amounts. Use more if the soil il
run down than if it is in good condition
and less of such material when all ar,
applied together than if it were use,
alone. For grain crops; let nitrogen ant
phosphoric acid, sulphate of ammonia
and superphOsphate, predominant; TO
corn, use phosphoric acid and potasl
freely and little if any nitrogen; 70
patatoes all three literally.
4. "Would it be well to mix all wit
plaster, muck or earth ?" Yes, if conven
lent, especially if you apply in the hill
or drill. Plaster is we'll, if cheap an
. your experience promises profit. Muc
is excellent if we'll weathered and dry
Otherwise good mellow earth dilute tn
fertilizers.
Mr.. Wheelock's plan of clubbing wit
his neighbor. buying the materials an
! mixing them is very sensible. They &c
them probably for 20 per cent less tina
they would cost mixed in complete fel
tilizers:" by purchasing in large amount
= they get some discount, and if they pa
cash, still more; and finally they kno
: what they are about. can mix at discr,
s ton, and use with profit.
l. Such questions these very pertinent, and
SYST the writer In making his directions clear and pra
a tca inquiries addressed to me will be forwarded
answer M H. RUoKHAM.
e God has two thrones one in th
u highest heavens; the other in the lowl
n est hearts.