The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-07
TOP DRESSING.
The Advantages to Grain Fields and
Meadows of Surface Applications

IOT CoSliNSs
The Advantages to Grain Fields and
Meadows of Surface Applications
Fall-sown grain, rs well rs grass in
meadows and pastures, often locks thin,
feeble. and unpromising at the opening
of spring, but a light top dressing with
some good fertilizer will usually assist
the plants greatly in pushing forward
and making an early and vigorous
growth. With fall-sown grain, like
wheat, rye, and winter oats, in the
South. dressing of stimulating ma
nures will frequently force the original
crowns to throw out side buds and
shoots, and become large stools, with
many stalks, instead of remaining small
and feeble. Many wheat field has
been ploughed up in spring because the
plants were weak and scattering; where
as. if left undiSturbed and heavily top
dressed early in the season, they would
have spread out and filled up the vacant
places, and ut harvest time given good
crop. Meadows and pastures are often
found in similar cOntstion in spring,
the grass roots having been winter
killed or greatly enfeebled by the sever
itv of the season. or from late paStur-
ing in the previous autumn. and the
farmer is called upon to consider the
best plan to make good his losses. But,
as happens in other farm operations,
circumstances may determine what shall
be done, if anything. with such fields as
those under consideration.
If the plants have been too severely
thinned out. then breaking up with the
plow and putting in some otLer crop
would be preferable to any attempt to
secure one by top dressing. Applying
some kind of fertilizer as top dress
inc in spring to both grain and grass
will usually prove beneficial if the plants
have not been seriously injured b. the
cold of winter, especially on old lands
where Il rank growth of heritage is not
to be expected. Frequently a very small
amount of material will make great
difference in the yield of hay or grain.
What kind of material to use as top
dressing is Il question not easily an
swered. for the reason that the charac-
| ter and constituents of the soil differ
very widely, and fertilizer that might
prove very beneficial on one field
might not do for another.
| 1t is true, however, that the farmer
! can always apply any of the standard
| commercial fertilizers, or well-rOlled
! stable manure, as a top dressing to his
| grain fields, meadows or pastures with
| benefit, but the results are not ALWAYS
| commensurate with their cost. If the
farmer can obtain only forty cents a
| bushel for his wheat he can scarcely af-
! ford to Use as expensive fertilizers rs il
he was certain Of obtaining one dollar
or more per bushel. But it is seldom
necessary to Use the high-priced fertili-
| GERS in regions where farm products
are sold at such prices as forty cents for
wheat and twenty or twenty-five for
corn, because such figures belong to new
countries, where the land is usuallyrich
enough to produce good crops without
using mauureS of any kind.
In selecting fertilizers for top dress
ing plants in spring, those that are
moderately soluble should be employed.
as the object is to stimulate early
growth principally; but if portion re-
mains to supply nutriment to the crop
later. it is no objection. Old decOm-
posed barnyard or stable manure is an
| excellent material for this purpose. but,
unfortunately. it is seldom that a farmer
/ has much of this kind on hand or to
spare in the spring; consequently he
must look about for substitute. What
il shall be must be determined by cir
cumstaaces, but there is far greater
variety of substances that are valuable
! I,.a- nj than
most farmers suppose. If the farmer IS
in position to afford superphosphate.
puan,1. bone dust and similar fertilizers.
then we would advise him to use them
for this purpose. Two hundred pounds
per acre of superphOsphate or finely
ground bone makes 4 most excellent
top dressing for wheat, rye. or even a
meadow or pasture. but they should be
applied early, in order to get the bene-
| fiji of the spring rains. which will dis
solve and carry the fertilizing properties
| down to the roots. GuanO NAV be ap-
piled at the rate of hundred pounds
per acre. and it may be mixed with three
| or four times its weight of good dry
earth to ad in distributing it evenly
over the surface. If none of these can
| be had, then look for something else.
Hen manure and all the scrapings and
| dust and surface soil about the hen
yard may be used, but it should be well
mixed with dried muck or good soil, and
broken up very fine before applying.
/ Hen manure is worth oDe-half as muCk
as bone dust for a top dressing, and
four or five hundred pounds must bo
applied per acre to produce much effect.
" J. Sun.