Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-03-12
Usir Q Fertilizers I'm Spring
Farm Field and FireSide

In the fall, when fertilizers are
applied upon the wheat, nesrly six
months time ocsurs for the disintegra-
tlon and dissolution of the coarse por-
lions, so that when the plants are
warmed into activity in the spring, q
large proportion will have been made
available as food. But in using COM
mercial fertilizers in the spring, the
farmer desires quick results. Hence
superphosphate Is superior to ground
bone, and plaster is better than line.
vi the heterogeneous substances nitrate
OF soda is the most soluable. It is
superior to sulphate of ammonia, be.
! cause there are some soils de ficlent in
| soda, though so far as its SEXUAL value
I Is concerned there is no difference. OF
| the potash compounds the market is
supplied with so many different
grades as 10 make it difficult for the
average farmer to draw line bet ween
them.
Leaving aside the names of the fer
tlilzers SIS known t.. chemists. we will
state that nitrate of soda is Chill salt.
peter, while the sulphate of potash, in
a crude condition, is known as kainit.
Now, the farmer may buy these sub
stances for himself, and mix them.
All soils require nitrogen, potash and
phosphoric acid. On an acre of clay
loan mixed with sand. if OF averae e
quality, a good application is 100
pounds saltpeter. 200 pounds super
phosphate and 200 pounds kainit.
This quantity may be increased, if
desired, and may be applied accord
ing 10 the quality of the soil. The
mixture should be troedcasted evenly
and as they are all soluable ingredi-
ents, the effect may be noticed immed-
lately. The acidulated South Caro-.
lima rock may be used in place of the
superphosphate, but it contains no
nitrogen. The difference betw een
ground bone and superphosphate, is
that The latter has been produced by
treating 100 pounds of ground bone 10
the action of forty pounds of sulphur
&c acid, which renders the phosphoric
acid soluble, and changes the lime OF
the bones to sulphate-plaster. We
are thus plain in order that our read
ers may thoroughly understand just
what they may u.s., and if the
fertilizer be used on a field that has
been MANFRED in the fall, the result
will be astonishing, and nothing but
a dry season can prevent a good crop.
The Hog on the Farm
There is one point in favor of the
hog which is not placed always to its
credit, and that is, unlike the horse,
COW, or sheep, it produces number
of young at one birth. This fact en-
ables those who make hog raising q
speciality to rapidly increase such
stock, and cheapcns the ost of pro-
dacnon by reducing the number oil
sources, from which the increase is
derived. Taking this into considera
ton, and also that the hog will ca
anything that may be produced upon
the farm, he is more valuable aui
NAL than is ascribed to him. Although
the hog may be made to produce
pork at a low cost, yet our farm
ers have, as rule, for generations
adopted the most expensive methods
of feeding that could be devised, anc
in so practicing they have also par
TALLY changed the nature OF the ami
NAL in order to conform it to the re
qulrements of a concentrated diet
May not this have something to dc
with the introduction of new disease!
that cause disaster to the swine in
dustryG We believe the time will
come when corn will not be fed 81
lavishly, and that sonae other kind O
hog will be preferred to that which
is always indolent and in a constant
ly diseased condition.
But while the clover pasture is re
commended as the best place for grow
ing hogs, our farmers are avere to al
lowing them TO run upon it. Wher;
there are COWS and other stock that de
mand the pasture the hog has no plac,
with them. He can not be turned up
On the pasture without a ring in hi
snout to pervent him from tearing W
the earth, and yet the roots to him arr
more preferable than the stalks ant
leaves. We think the better plan is t,
soil the swine in a large yard, cutting
grass and weeds, and feeding all mate
rial that is collected on the farm tha
would otherwise be wasted. Fed il
this manner, and on a variable diet, s
neal of corn once day would not bt
lost, while the manure saved will pay
well for the labor. But for the fac
that most farmers dread the labor re
qu;red, soiling the hogs would b. al
established method, yet the manure
from large herd, in one year alone
would almost pay the expenses o.
everything but feed.