Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-05-02
Fertilizers viii Bring up ii hun pow,,
farsn.
IGOR. New Englau'l Farmer


At the meeting of the State Board Of
Agriculture at Lowell, last December.
during the discussion upon the use of
commercial fertiii-ers, gentleman asked
if any one present knew OF farm that
hld been brought up from run down
C ,ndition by the use of fertilizers alone.
Eight years ago, bought a small farm
that was badly run down, the hay having
been sold for over twenty years it cut
about seven tons of poor quality. The
pastures were grown up to brush and
wood. so much 80 that they furnished con-
siderable fuel. ! was mechanic, and
continued working at my trade for three
years, after purchasing the farm, doing
but little on the farm that would be called
improvements. Having hut little man-
ure, decided to put it near the barn, o..
lot OF about five acres, using fertilizers
alone On the other fields.
! have ploughed, planted. and seeded
nearly all Of my moving and pasture
land, using very little manure except on
the above five acres. While am not a
believer in fertilizers, like some who
place them ahead Of manure, yet as l am
situated, with no chance TO buy except at
great expense for carting, do believe
that they have beeu of great advantage
to mc il reclaiming my farm. As to
bringing the farm up" it will speak for
itself.
I out last year, about twenty tons OF first
quality hay raised $50 bushels of potatoes
nearly sixty bushels rye, and about four
tons Of straw. seeded to grass, last
fall, about six acres, and If the coming
sea on is an average one, thluk 1t safe
to estimate my crop of hay for 1884, at
.wenty-eight or thirty tons, while | shall
have nearly seven acres in hoed crops.
Now the Important question is, has 1t
pad? Aud In answer to this, ! will say
tnnt, while | have not heeu systematic
enongh in my book keeping TO give ezact
rrsulte, yet, from the accounts | have
kept, | am convinced that u has paid well, ,
for | consider my farm, for me to Keep
tpernaps no, 10 Dv..Nl is worth enough
more thin it Was when bonght it, to
pay Tor all the fertilizers l have used.
The increased value Of land, when im-
proved, whether by using stable manure
Uf fertilizers, Is IA very important Item IN
estimating the profits of farming, for
some OF my land that was worse than
worthless when bought 1t, is now paying
me the interest on $50 or more per acre,
for raising hny with fertilizers alone, l
believe farmers have made great mi s.
take III using fertilizers, by applying them
too sparingly for, if they are honestly
made, thiuk the same rule may be mp
piled to them as to manure-the last loa',
pays the most profit, use about 4OO
pounds per acre for t1p'dressing grass
land, and about 1900 pounds on cOrn and
potatoes, where have no manure. Others
have used larger quantities per acre with
profitable results. Mr.. 4. A. Fletcher OF
Franklin, Mass, recommends using one
ton per acre. This is more than ] hav,
} ever applied, but think J shall try it an
other season.
Now, If any of the readers OF this let
, ter are situated as was, with run dow
farm in their possession. would earnest
I ly advise them to try fertilizers, and keel
| accurate accounts, that they may knoy
for themselves whether it pays or not. ]
: any of you have good land, that shiel
: would be called good grass land, Ibeliev
( it will pay wei, besides it will give you
0 great amount OF satisfaction, tor you wi
: think great deal more Of your farm
: you vii hsys . 0vtvRset tor the tow