The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-09-10
USE OF FERTILIZERS.

Good Ssggostlsas On Oas q The Most In
portaat Of Farm Topics
Different soils and different crops re-
quire the use Of different fertilizers.
This every farmer knows, though per-
haps he does not always apply it 1t is
not always, however, necessary to add
to the soil exactly the constituents
which We expected to obtain from it IN
wheat, potatoes, etc. But BY bringing
the land to good state Of productive
ness, with rotation Of crops and some
judgment in selecting fertilizers, We
may be sure of always securing good
crops. The following good suggestions
on the subject Of various fertilizers arc
recommended to the attention OF
thoughtful farmers:
Cereal crops are especially benefited
by nitrogen and heterogeneous manures.
Usually from forty to eighty pounds per
acre are required for full crops or larg-
est crops. Clover is the best medium
to use in charging soils with nitrogen
1t is nitrogen trap that is easily set
and sure to catch. Clover may b
specially fortified with plaster. Potash
is of little value in cereal growing. and
phosphoric acid not greatly called for.
In connection with nitrogen. phosphoric
acid and potash are both useful in small
quantities.
For Indian corn phosphoric acid is
perhaps the best special fertilizing ele-
ment Land plaster often does good
service. On some soils potash also
proves valuable.
Grass requires all the elements Of
plant food Well rotted manure is per-
haps the best special manure for it.
Bone-dust comes next. Either of these
can be used at seeding, or afterward
rs top dressing. Clover requires nitro
gen and phosphoric acid in small
quantities Potash and lime are its
most valuable manures. Turnips re-
quire nitrogen and phosphoric acid. the
latter in soluble form. Superphos-
pilates are specials for the turnip crop
Mangels want more nitrogen and less
phosphoric acid than turnips. Potatoes
are similar. to turnips in their likes.
and on most soils they need . supply of
potash furnished. There is usually
potash enough in our common barn
yard msnure for potatoes
One hundred pounds Of good bone.
thirty-five pounds Of sulphuric acid. and
thirteen pounds Of water. mixed in .
wooden vat or tub. win make 14S pounds
superphosphate dry. In mixing. how
ever, much more water viii be found
necessary to possibly properly mix tho
mass, and when properly mixed, il after
standing . day or two it is too damp.
may be dried BY adding ground plaster
or other material The bone-dust should
be wet with the water first, then tho
acid added. . little ut . time; by 80 do
ing the vessel in which the mixture il
made is less acted upon, and the incor-
pofation with and action upon the bona
i better. Stir with . wooden hoe or
mixer. Never attempt to reduce whole
bones with the sulphuric acid
The advantage Of reducing bones or
rock phosphate with sulphuric acid IS to
render the solubility in water the greater
when applied to the soils. Lining soils
really adds NO plant food to the soil. but
has . tendency to develop it in the soil
BY the caustic, dissolving. breaking
down effect that the action Of the lime
has upon the particles Of the soil, I'M
locking them, making them give up
their hidden stores Of plant food 10
not only acts upon the mineral constit-
uenis in the soil but upon the vegetable
constituent parts.-Cxsca9o Isfer-Oes