Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-06-03
Hai!p 3eyyueber Journalx
Application OF Fertilizers.

I, Every one who uses commercial ferfll-
izers should read and compare the cat
alogues published by the different manu-
facturers. In some will be found Q good
deal of brag. but very little information.
A low priced fertilizer that is ''irstrate"
for all kinds of crops should be bought
sparipply. particularly If new brand,
and not web known. The standard fer
tilizers that claim to be worth $50 to $50
DER ton and which have given general
satisfaction to those who have used them
for term Of years. can not be made and
sold for very much less than the prices
asked and they will be found cheaper as
rule than the low priced goods.
We have been looking over number OF
the advertising pamphlets OF late, and one
thing in particular has struck US as liable to
misiead. and give those who purchase ex-
pectaiions above what are likely to
be realized. We refer TO the small
quantities recommended for use on most
crops from 200 10 500 pounds per
acre. on grass; 800 to 1000 pounds
on corn; 900 to 800 pounds on pota-
toes, and at about the same rate on other
common farm crops. But when garden
crops like strawberries. asparagus and
celery are touched, and tobacco as field
crop, ton or more of the same fertilizer
is recommended. Now we would like to
know why a heavier application is not
urged for ordinary field crops.
II used to be the fashion to plant corn
and potatoes on a small shovelful of farm
manure, and except on extra fertile land,
small crops were harvested as rule.
Some of our best farmers set the example
of spreading manure so bOuntifully that
little or nothing was needed in the hill,
and harvested double the amount of crops
formerly grown On little ma ure, and
made four times the profit on the labor
performed. The newspaper writer's for
many years past, have been urging farm
ers to manure heavier. as thus they get
bigger yields and better profits.
But since fertilizers have come into
quite general use, the aim has seemed to
be to see how little could be made to an
swer the purpose. and the manufacturers
and dealers. judging by their publications,
seem to favor this idea. Now, when we
depended upon stable manures for
fertilizing our fields, it was our
aim to apply as large quantities as
we thought the crop could be benefited
by, and if the manure was coarse and |
crude. and not likely to become complete
~ fitted to feed the present years crop. we
applied surplus, expecting to regain it |
in future years. In the ordinary rotation
Of corn, followed by grass, the several
crops of the latter get all their plant food
not derived from the land, from manure
applied several years previously.
We are taught that phosphoric acid and
potash are retained in the soil with very
little or no waste, until taken up by the |
plants. II this is true, and we use fertil-
izers which contain large percentage OF
these non-wasting elements, as fine raw
bone and potash salts, we can not see why
it may not be as good economy to
apply them freely, or in excess of the
needs OF the present crop, as to apply sta
BILE manure in excess OF the present years
crop. 1t is never an easy matter to mingle
either stable manures or commercial fer
Iilizers evenly through the soil, but they
should be so mingled to secure the great
est good to the plants grown. But as this
is practically impossible, especially when
moderate quantities are applied, it would
seem that the next best thing to do would
be 70 apply the fertilizers as good farm
ers do stable manure, in excess of the
present years needs.
In our own practice. we have aimed to
make the soil of the farm approximate in
fertility the soil of the garden. We want
as rich soil for field corn as for sweet
corn in the garden, and we believe it will
pay to make it so. After soil is once
made rich, we can see why excessive
quantities of fertilizers. particularly nitro
geneous fertilizers, would. or might be
Objectionable and wastetul. Wheat, oats,
barley and millet should not be MANFRED
enough to make the straw fall down and
rot on the ground, and it is possible to
make grass land and orchards too rich.
but we do not believe the danger lies in
this direction. or ever will, if the instruc-
tons given in the fertilizer catalogues are
made the rule OF action. If we are wrong,
we hope some of our manufacturing friends
will set us aright.-New ENGLAND Farmer