The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-04-07
farm aud Gardem.
Commercial Fertiliaers.-continued.

calcic form of the phosphates are as avail
able by means of the natural solvents in
the soil as the soluble or mono-calcic
form. at least as far as lime is concerned,
mixed together equal parts of lime and
superphosphate, which reduced the latter
to the tri-calcic, or insoluble form. After
being mixed into thick paste with water,
it was dried, and applied to cotton rows
70 Yards long. Superphosphate and lime
53i or. each, mixed, produced $50 lbs. to
the acre, while superphosphate, 539 o..
alone produced 987 lbs. Lime, 53& o.,
alone. produced CTS lbs and row with
no manure, 600 lbs This seems to show
that lime is no solvent for the phosphates,
and that they do not act well together.
The mixture, by reducing the superphos-
phate to the insoluble form, caused a fall
ING off of 1877 lbs. to the acre, compared
with the superphosphate alone. The ex-
pertinent speaks well for the action of
lime. Other substances, however, pro-
badly help to make soluble the insoluble
phosphates. DIR. Ravenel's mixture of
!" Ash Compound as he calls it, of the
Carolina phosphates and kainit, may be
an instance of this. The potash and com
mon salt of the kainit help, in all proba-
bility, to make the ground phosphate
more soluble and available 1t must be
a good fertilizer, as Dr. Ravenel informed
the writer that he expected to make 35
bushels of wheat per acre from its use, on
pea fallow. And this on the light lands
of the South Carolina coast. At the time
o., the conversation his wheat harvest had
commenced The opinion seems gaining
ground in England, and. we think in this
country, that the fine ground bone, and
the native phosphates (fne-groun y are
to be preferred to those dissolved We
get rid Of the loss of phosphate1lim by
the use Of sulphuric acid, and the conse-
quent large formation of gypsum, before
explained, where sulphuric acid is used,
and we have more permanent prepare
ton, one that comes into efficient play
more particularly when the grain of
wheat is forming We have recently
from farmer ia Virginia, statement
that his wheat is now looking remarkably
well from the effects of the fine ground
South Carolina phosphate, and he was
much pleased with It's action.
In examining tables of analysis, the
farmer will understand that reverted, 3"
reduced, and "precipitated phosphoric
acid, all mean the same thing Some
contend that these forms are as effectual
on crops as the superphosphates or solu-
BILE. This no doubt depends on circum-
stances On many soils there are solvents
to restore the first forms to the superphos-
'phate, or soluble form, but in worn soils,
deficient in organic matter, and the con-
sequent carbonic acid, ammonia, and acids
derived from decomposition of vegetation.
this can scarcely occur; and then the first
forms could not be equal in effectiveness
to the latter, though they might by their
gradual action be ultimately as valuable,
as IN case of ground bone or phosphates
But even these last on such worn soils
deficient in vegetable matter, may be too
slowly available to make them equal to
the superphosphates. Coarse ground bone
will not do. The writer remembers some
SIX years ago using some coarse bone on
oats sowed with clover. No effect was
manifest on the wheat, or clover. or on
any subsequent crop.
There is difference of opinion as to
whether superphosphates should be an
piled broadcast, or in the drill Professor
Pendleton says they produce better eff
feet IN the drill. His explanation is this
that the superphosphates find plenty of
bases, lime, clay, iron, ETC., in the whole
soil to reduce their solubility Changing
them to the insoluble forms) before the
rootlets find them, while in the drill
enough remains in direct contact with
the roots to give them good start. This
good start is very important thing in
the use of fertilizers with some plants.
particularly those which mature in a
moderate time The early roots are
found more susceptible to action of ma
nures than the later, and this is more i'm
portant in the growth of grasses than
grain, which should get good hold on
the soil before the cold weather of winter.
(f sowed in the fall, or the dry weather
which usually follows the spring. An
lnducement to use ground bone on wheat
or winter oats, is, that the effect will last
longer than the superphosphates, to be
utilized in giving start and growth to
the clover and grasses, which usually fol-
low the wheat r. P.
A farmer in Bangor, Me-, noticing that