The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-24
Fertilizers for the Horticulturist.

q. Hemingway, in Michigan Horticultural.
In treating upon the subject chosen for discus
sion to-day, it must be understood that my re
marks refer chiefly to our old peach orchard
lands that for ten or fifteen years were contin-
uously under cultivation, yielding abundant
crops, and which. since the determination of
those orchards, have been replanted to various
small fruits, making at least twenty years Of
continuous cropping, while nothing in the form
of fertilizers has ever been returned to the soil.
That We may know how and what to
restore to exhausted soils, we must first
learn of what they have been robbed. An anal
ysis of the peach, apple and pear woods shows
that they contain from Sc to 81 per cent. of pot
ash, lime and phosphate of lime-the constituent
portions being about two-thirds lime and phos-
phate of lime to one-third potash. On the we'll
settled principle that this indicates the food upon
which these trees subsist, we are in no doubt as
to the fertihzng material we should return to
the soil. Being connected with others in
the purchase of lands, and having to
provide for and take the management
of the whole, was early led to
seek advice of leading horticulturists in
sections where fertilizers have long been in use.
a 100-acre peach orchard. He advised me first
to use kainit German potash SALT 600 pounds to
the acre, sown broadcast when the ground is
bare in winter, or before the early spring rains.
Next he recommended lime; next bonedust, or
ground bone. believe that agriculturists and
horticulturists. East and South, use exclusively,
or nearly 30, artificial fertilizers which they con-
slider not only cheaper at the start, and more
certain to produce crops Especially in seasons
of droughtj, but also that they promote
the growth of fruit and more abiding
in the soil, portions not exhausted the first
season remaining near the surface, without
change or loss. for future use We are using
first, kainit-500 to 900 pounds to the acre; next,
leached ashes--two tons to the acre; next. thirty
to forty bushels OF stone-lime to the acre; next,
what stable manure we can find, striving TO
avoid the more worthless. This is as far as we
have gone, still do not wish to be understood
that we have come to a halt We are reaching
out in the direction Of whatever contains phos-
phoric acid, nitrogen and the kindred numerous
phosphates and super phosphates OF lime. This
brings us face TO face with the chemists, and
here we propose to 60 slow. We shall not how
ever abandon the pursuit until, without the aid
of vitriol, we dissolve raw bones In alkalies
and render them fit for use.
Several methods sre practicable, and we are
gathering material for home experiment another
season. Should we succeed, you may hear more
about it; f We fall we shall go into quiet retire
ment. In TIE meantime we shall look further
in the market for what seems most fitting to I'm
ish the work already under way.
Chemists tell US that there is a great fraud
practiced in the preparation and sale OF fertiliz-
ers They also say that many reliable houses
sell, In the raw or crude state, all the needful
kinds without adulteration. For these reasons
farmers who need large quantities should, and
may, learn how to compound their own fertilizers.
There are two classes of fertilizer manufacturers
one dealing in crude or raw articles, the other
buying these prepared crude articles and COM
pounding them and selling what are known as
commercial fertilizers but these parties are loah
to disclose to small users any of the secrets of
the art of compromising In the crude ingredients
are to be- found all the needed elements that are
found in the prepared commercial fertilizers,
and one ton of the crude stuff makes five tons
when prepared and mixed. Muck is of most
value when got out IN the fall and allowed to
freeze, and then mixed with lime and stable
manure. Bones may be dissolved by placing
them. with wood ashes, in b tank and covering
them with muck as an absorbent.