The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-01-14
Experience with Fertilizers.

gave little of my experience with the
Buffalo fertilizers, showing far different
effects than those received by another
correspondent, and suggested the idea of
repeating our experience after another
years trial.
/ did not receive the fertilizers early
enough to SOW on land in connection
with stable manure and seeded to oats, as
1 would have liked, as from my expert
ence l find they work better thus than
alone. / used some of the Quinnipiac
for this purpose on reclaimed pasture,
and it worked well.
Near the close of seeding had
piece of ground, the larger part of
which was treated to dressing of sta
BILE manure, about twenty two-horse
loads to the acre; the remainder re-
ceived, at the rate of two hundred fifty
pounds to the acre, the Buffalo fertil-
izer, and was then seeded to oats. The
land was in corn last year and was only
MANFRED in the hill. The part that re-
ceived the manure produced an enor-
nous growth of straw, large and coarse
and well filled. This showed that there
was an abundance of heterogeneous mat
ter in the manure. The part with the
phosphate did not produce as large
growth of straw, it being somewhat
shorter and finer, but / am satisfied
that the yield of grain was fully as good
as on the other. This was an excellent
showing on my soil, gravelly loan,
for superphosphate alone, and was
evidence of the good quality of the fer
tilizer.
A piece for corn was MANFRED broad
cast, about fifteen loads to the acre, and
tablespoonful of the fertilizer put in
the hill. Not having sufficient seed of
my own, obtained some of a neighbor,
and it proved to be rather late variety.
The growth of corn was very fine in
deed, but the frost of August 25th in
jured it more than / was aware of at
the time. I thought as only the leaves
were partially killed, the filling out of
the grain would not be materially inter-
fered with; but l was mistaken, as
what promised to have been splendid
crop, with favorable season, was Sc
verely injured by the frosts. To show
the effect of the fertilizer in the hill, a
row was left without any, and would
have liked to had those who do not be-
lieve in manuring in the hill noted the
difference through the season and at
harvest. 1t was fully one hundred per
cent in favor of the practice, and this
is about the usual result l obtain when
making these tests.
On another piece part received only
hog manure in the hill. The frost did
not injure this and the crop was sound
and good. Next to this a strip had
phosphate sown ON and put in the hill,
but no manure This did not do nearly
as well as the other, indicating that on
my land it would not be usually safe
to undertake to raise field corn with SUI
perphosphate alone. A neighbor raised
a fair, sound crop on hill pasture with
nothing but the Buffalo fertilizer in the
hill, and on another piece the crop of
corn was better than where hog manure
was put in the hill. The growth of
stalks, however, with the last was
large, which is usually apt to be the
case, and, Judging from this alone, one
would very likely give the preference
to the manure, unless the crop was
measured or weighed.
/ obtained my most satisfactory re-
suits with this fertilizer in the raising
of fodder corn.
had about an acre in two pieces
planted to Sanford corn, with nothing
but superphosphate in the hill. The
ground was greensward, and one piece
in pretty ordinary condition. The corn
was cultivated and hoed once only, but
the ground was clean. The growth
was wonderful. / hardly ever saw any
thing like it for the conditions under
which it was raised. Somehow this
kind of corn has wonderful vitality
its strong roots getting all the nutri-
ment possible from the soil, while the
numerous broad leaves obtain more
from the atmosphere. This crop was
planted in rows three feet apart and
hills two feet, with plenty of seed.
did not expect to ripen the corn, but
) there were ears in the milk.
For the cost, think this the most
, profitable crop the farmer can raise
both to feed green and to cure; but i
should be planted so that it can be cul
r tivated and hoed, as find from fields
seen upon other farms, that were sowI
i, broadcast, that this adds from fifty t.
one hundred per cent to the value o
+" the crop.
e The Buffalo potato fertilizer is wei
:, liked and, with the standard super
q phosphates, is being largely used in tn
: production of this crop. With plent
of manure, should like to sprea
VI on ten or twelve loads to the acre, an,
d then put the fertilizers in the hill.
Il should expect considerably better re
:. suits in this way than with either alone
~ have now used these concentrate
n fertilizers for some eighteen years, an
e from my experience prefer to use theI
At in connection with stable manure tina
alone, unless it is with fodder corn, {
y with the sowed grains when not stool
IL ing down to grass, and there is no mi
" nure for the purpose. In seeding
,e grass they are also a great aid.
To farmers | would say; Make an