Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-08-29

The advantage of applying fertilizers At
stated intervals instead OF making single ap-
plicatiOu AT the time of sowing seed cannot
be ghinsdid. Ii the fertilizer il applied after
tho llud is plowrd, and no after application be
made tie crop not only is put to greater exer-
ton to derive plaut food, but the natural re-
suit will be that not only will the rains dis
solve and carry it of but many of tho sub
stances are either diapellcd in the atmosphere
or become, by chemical action, partly inert.
The plant will thrive better when fed on small
quantities often than on large quantities less
frequently. There Is a similarity III that re-
spect between a plant and an animal that IL
surfeited at times 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
guauo at the rate of 200 pounds por acre, in
connection with the same quantity of super
phosphate ard kainit, a farmer last season fer
tilted his corn, for comparison, by two diff
farent 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
at the time of seeding, one-third when the
crop was about three feet in height and tho
other third after the corn had begun 10 tassel.
After each application, except the last, the
cutivator was used between the rows, the
corn having been planted wide enough to ad-
nit of good cultivation both ways. But lit
tie difference in growth was observed at first,
though the field which had received the
three applications gave greeuer tinge when
the corn was about TO tassel 1t also
filed out better grew taller, gave larger
proportion of fodder and yielded 20 por cent.
more corn.
Experiments have also been tried with fer
tilizers on oats in somewhat the same manner.
A Georgia farmer reports to tho Southern Gull
tivatoT that he used $50 pounds of guano on
three separate plota, each receiving that guam
tity. On the first plot no used all the guano
at once, before sowing the seed. On the sec
ond plot he used one-half the quantity at the
time of seeding, and one-half at the time the
oats were shooting. On the third plot he
used onethird the quantity at seeding time,
one-third at the tima of shooting, and one
third when the oats were in blossom. The
weight of the sheaves on the first plot was
100 pounds, on the second 147, and on the
third 1G8. On a trial upon rich and poor
solH the advantage was largely in favor of
fertilizing poor soils at intervals. Expert
ments we're then made on two other plots
with home made compost and the results
were equally in favor Of the application of
the compost at different periods
As the above experiments were made in
TWO diuerent secuonsi they arc more Yalua-
BILE than may DO supposed. II we can in
crease the yield of crops by gradually food
ing them instead OF putting ia a large guam.
tty only at the time Of seeding the quantity
of fertilizer may be lsssened Ia order 10 get
only the average yield, but as that course
would be of no advantage, the full allowance
may be used, relying upon the increased yield
rs compensation for the extra labor required,
which, however, is not er,Ht W. ,u-.o nd
the experiments, and trust that during the
next season our readers will experiment in
this direction, Gs from our own observations
aud the tasts made by others, We believe sat
isfactory and valuable information may be ae-
qulred -Phila Re0Ord