The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-08-04
Fertilizing the Farm.

that, aside from natural conditions, tina
may be particularly favorable, the fer
tility of tarm depends upon the man
ner of its cultivation. "A farm NAV b,
cultivated, and yet be growing NOR,
and more sterile; this is well illustrated
in the case of farms that are let tt
careless and INSCRIPTIONS tenants wht
seem to believe that the ability to Skin
farm, as it is sometimes termed, is ont
OF the cardinal virtues; at least they
seem to lack no disposition to cultivate
and practice the absurd notion. Hap
PLY, however, tenants are not all O
this class, and have due regard fol-
the rights of the landlord. and while
working for their own profit, also have
q sharp lookout for his welfare. This
class is one that always enjoys the priv.
ileges OF tenants at pleasure on theil
own part; that is. it is seldom they are
Obliged to vacate any premises fol
neglect of observance of the laws OF
good husbandry. a.
Tillage, in a general sense, denotes
such preparation of soil, by mechanical
means and fertilization, and such gen.
eral treatment as will insure an improved
Iertlle condition, even after the re-
moval of the crops. This is very much
aided by judicious rotation of crops
requiring less expenditure of fertiii-
llzlng material; but there has never vet
been discovered any means that would
/ entirely do away with the use of some
sorto application to the soil that is con-
1 tinually cropped. Resources for ferti-
/ ty are many and various, including ac-
/ cumulations of the various kinds of ma
nure upon the farm. the natural stores.
as found in guano banks and phosphate
deposits, and in the various kinds of
manufactured articles that are found in
the markets.
1t is a great convenience that chemic-
al science has pointed out the manner
OF combining the simple elements of
fertility to be most serviceable to the
farmer in the use that he may desire to
make OF the same as supplementary
manure; but q question of great impor-
lance TO all farmers is; whether it is de-
slrabie to enter very extensively into
the use of this class of fertilizers. 1t is
supposed that the mineral elements ap-
Piled are the same that exist to some
extent in the soil--in fact, are a part
OF the soil, and may, by gradual aecu-
mulaslons, exist to excess, and in such a
state OF affairs maximum crops might
DE expected; but is this always the case?
May not a farm be really mineral sick,
SO To speak. or, in other words, become
bY constant application of this forcing
kind OF manure, as to be partially in.
sensible to its direct effects? 1t is said
that an individual by a gradual and
constant user of arsenic, will produce
such state of the system as will enable
the taking OF dose without fear Of any
harm, as would at first produce instant
death. So too continual use of stimu-
iants by an individual, in time, renders
such individual wholly insensible to any
stimulating effect, except when taken
IN large quantities; but Aere is food
that ls natural to the human. system,
and although the use is continued. if it
be In ajudicious manner, the BODY con.
tlnues healthy and life prolonged.
So it seems to be with the soil; a con.
tlnuedc use of stimulating or peculiarly
forcing commercial fertilizers, while
good for few crops, will, in a little
time. lose their efficiency. This will
undoubtedly explain why, in some cases.
farmers who have been accustomed to use
a particular brand of fertilizer because
1t at first gave such excellent satisfac-
ton, will abandon it for another be-
cause the results are not as good as for
merly, when the cause is not SO much a
difference in the quality, as it is CON
tlnued use; and in that case another
brand of different combinations will |
give. apparently, new energy to the
soil. =
That all such fertilizers serve an ex-
cellent purpose, and are excellent helps
TO the farmer, cannot be denied; but
the part of wise policy would forbid
the too extensive use of the same. II +
was the saying of a wise farmer who, in
answer to the enquiry of the three
principal things necessary in farming,
repHeu; manure, manure MANURE.
The importance of this is very large
iy felt when it is considered that the
soil requires double action, which
manure happily supplies, besides fer
Unity. the mechanical actions which its
changes produce in the soil.
are just what are required by the plant;
ana again, manures, as they are accu-
mulated from the stables, or by means of
are the natural food of
plants, and, SO to speak, keep the soil
IN good healthy condition. Experi-
ence has demonstrated that the best
farms for growing crops are those upon
which are kept the largest amount of
stock, and, as consequence, where
there are the greatest accumuIa-
lions OF manure. 1t is sort Of inereas.
"a rotary movement the more stock. i.
me more manure-and the more ma
1ure. the larger the crops; and then
gain, the larger the crops, the greater
he ability to keep more stock, which
It'll increases the manure pile. A
armer OF good judgment has said that
IS far better to buy corn than to buy 4
ertlllzers, because, By feeding the corn. /
here will be an increased amount of ,
'eef, pork, butter or cheese, besides an
accumulation of manure that is better
'dapted to continued use than phos-
,hates. ,
The main dependence of the farmer /
mould be the manurial resources of the
arm, supplemented by moderate GUAM &
tiles, perhaps, of special fertilizers {