Daily Republican., 1884-09-08

APPLYING FERTILIZERS AT INTER

APPLYING FERTILIZERS AT INTER
Walls.
The advantage of applyin fertilizer
at stated intervals instead of making
single application at the time of SOWING
seed cannot'be gainsaid. If the ferti
lizer is applied after the land is plowed
and no after application be made, the
crop not only is put to greater exertior
to derive plant food, but the natural re
suit will be that not only will the raint
dissolve and carry 1t Off but many
of the substances are either dispelled II
the atmosphere or become, by chemica
action, partly inert. The plant will
thrive better when fed On small quaint
ties often than on large quantities less
frequently. There is a similarity in
that respect between n plant and an
animal that is surfeited at tines and
sparingly fed at others. The food must
always be within easy access, instead
Of gradually diminishing as the plant
advances In growth.
In some experiments made with corn,
using guano at the rate of 200 pounds
per acre, in connection with the same
quantity of superphosphate and kainit,
farmer last season fortilized his corn,
for comparison, by two different
methods. On one acre he applied the
mixed fertilizer at the time of putting
in the seed. On the other plot he
applied one third when the crop
was about three feet in height and
the other third after the corn had begun
to tassel. After each application, ex-
cept the last, the cultivator was used
between the rows, the corn having been
planted wide enough to admit of good
cultivation both ways. But little diff
ference in growth was observed at first,
though the field which had received the
three applications gave q greener tinge
when the corn was about to lassel. 1t
also filled out better, grew taller, gave
a larger proportion of fodder and
yielded 20 per cent. more corn.
Experiments have also been tried
with fertilizers on OATS In somewhat
the same manner. A Georgia farmer
reports to the Southern Cultivator that
he uses 100 pounds of guano ON three
separate plots, each receiving tina,
quantity. On the first Llot he uses all
the guano at once, before sowing the
seed. On the second plot he uses one.
half the quantity at the time of seeding
shooting. On the third plot he uses
one-third the quantity at seeding time,
one third at the time of shooting, and
one-third when the oats were in bloom.
The weight of the sheaves on the first
plot was 100 pounds. on the second l4l
and on the third 1858. On a trial upon
rich and poor soils the advantage was
largely in favor of fertilizing poor soils
at intervals. Experiments were then
made on two other plots with home
made compost, and the results were
eq ually in favor OF the application OF
the compost at different periods.
AS the above experiments were made
In two different sections, they are more
valuable than may be supposed. II
we can increase the yield of crops by
gradually feeding them instead of put.
ting in large quantity only at the
time of seeding the quantity of fertil'
izer may be lessened in order to get
only the average yield, but as thai
course would be Of no advantage, the
full allowance may be used, relying
upon the increasing yield compelisa
ton for the extra labor required which,
however, is not great. We commend
the experiments, and trust that during
the next season our readers will expert
ment in this direction, as from oul
own observations, and the tests made
by others, we believe satisfactory and
valuable information may be acquired
NITRATE OF SODA.
The London circulars give the Euro
pean consumption of this article for the
year ending July 1st, at 467 900 tons
an increase of 20 per cent. over the pre-
vious year. At meeting of the German
Chemical Manure Makers Association
held at Weisbaden, May goth, 1t wal
stated that 200 900 tons would be USED
In Europe for the purpose of beet.roo
growing this year. The present low
price 81 sugar all over the world is du'
mainly to this fact. 1t Is estimated
that in Germany alone about tvo-thirdl
of million acres are fertilized with
this salt for beets.
1t is gratifying to learn that our farm
ers are waking up to the importanc
of these facts, and are asking 70
methods Of use. One wide-awake farm
or writes that he is ahead Of his neigh
bors two weeks on the same planting
Another correspondent writes !:
used nitrate on my wheat this Summer
and 1t tells Its own story. / would no
advise its use in the Fall, but use som
good manure or fine, ground bones witt
the wheat when sown, and use the nj
trate In the Spring. Sow broadcast q
or 100 pounds per acre, the last working
of other crops, and work 1t into tn
rows, or it can be used two or thre
times during cultivation and worked
| into the land. On grass, SOW after
rain, or while the grass is damp"
All our correspondents agree that the
time TO use nitrate is Immediately ate
q rain In warm weather.
THE FIRST TO BEAR.
Some inquiry, says the Country Gen
It,eman. is made in the journals fol
those varieties of the pear which conn
into bearing while young. The first
doubtless, to be placed on this list, q
| we'll az for other good qualities, Is thu
Bartlett, which is pretty sure to bear II
three or four years from the graft O
bud If well taken care of. The Howell
"a nearly equal to 1t for early bearing
and sometimes outdoes it in heav!
crops. The winter Nelis. often bear
when quite young. Among tn
autumn sorts are Onondaga, Belle Luc
ratiye and Buerre d'Amanlis and tn,
summer varieties-W ashington, Git
fard and Doyenne d'Ete. The JUL
enne. a near which succeeds we'll IL
the more southern regions Of the coun
nv INIT IA poor as far north as New
York, exceeds any other variety, 30 ~
las We know, in bearing while the tree
are quite young, the yellow pears oltel