The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-28
applying rertlllzers y Interrals.

Philadelphia Record.
The advantage of applying fertilizers at stated
intervals instead of making a single application
at the time of sewing seed cannot be .eainsaid.
# the Sertilizer is applied after the land is
ploweu, and no after application be made, the
crop not only is put to greater exertion to derive
plant feod but the natural result win be that
not only viii the rain dissolve and carry it Of
but many of the substances are either dispelled
in the atmosphere or become, by chemical
action, partly inert The plant will thrive bet
ter when fed on small quantities less freauently
There is similarity in that respect between a
plant and an animal that is surfeited at times
and sraringly fed at others. The food must al
ways 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 con
nectlon with the same quantity of superphos-
phate and kainit, a farmer last season feftilized
his corn, for comparison, by two different
methods. Onone acre he applied the mixed
fertilizer at the time of putting in the seed On
the other plot he applied onethird at the time
of seeding, onethird when the crop was about
three feet in hight and the other third after the
corn had begun to tassel. After each application,
except the last, the eultivator was used between
the rows the corn having been planted wide
enough to admit of good cultivation both ways.
But little difference in growth was observed at
hrst, though the field which had received the
three applications gave greener hnge when the
Corn was about to tassel 1t also filled out better,
grew taller, gave q larger proportion of fodder
and yielded 20 per cent more corr
Experiments have also been tried with fertil.
iZers on oats In somewhat the same manner "A
Georgia farmer reports to the Southern Guilt
vator that he used $50 pounds Of gEano on three
separate plots, each one receiving that quantity
On the first plot he uses all the guane at once,
before sowing the seed On the second plot he
used one-half the quantity at the time of seed
ing and onehalf at the time the eats were shoot
ing On the third plot he used ene-third the
quantity at seeding time, one third at the time
of shooting, and one-t third when the oats were
IN blossom. The weight of the sheaFas on the
first plot was 100 pounds. on the second LAT, and
on the third 1853 On a trial on rich and poor
soils the advantage was largely in favor of fer
tilzing poor soils At intervals. Experiments
were then made on two other plats with hoae-
made compost, and the result was equally IN
favor of the application of the compost at differ.
ent periods.
As the above experiments were made In two
different sections, they are more valuable than
may be supposed If we can increase the yield
of crops by gradually feeding them instead OF
putting in large quantity only at the time of
seeding, the quantity of fertilizer may be less
ened in order to get only the average yield, but
as that course would be Of no advantage, the full
allowance may be used, relying upon the in
creased yield as compensation for the extra
labor required, which, however is not great
We commend the experiments and trust that
dnring the next season our readers will expert
ment in this direction as from our own abserya
tions and the tests made by others we believe
satisfactory and valuable information may be
acquired.