The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-09-01
WINSTON, N. c., SEPTEMBER l, 1886.

are dDunudnC III almost all SOILS,
even lime although often doing good
when applied to soils, is yet present
in all soils sufficient for plant struc-
ture. Potash, phosphorus and nitro
gen are present in all virgin soils
sufficient for all plant life, yet they
are the elements that generally dis
appear in the cultivated field and
the deficiency Of either one makes
poor land.
Now to supply and keep these
elements in the soil is the business
of the farmer, and certainly it is
business of vital Importance to the
farmer. The resources for these
elements are the manure heap and
commercial fertilizers. All admit
the efficiency Of manure, that from
we'll fed stock is better than manure
from poor fed or straw fed animals,
that the heterogeneous feeds and feeds
rich in phosphates make the best
manure, and that these manures
must be entirely decomposed, i. e.,
reduced to their ultimate elements
for availability or immediate plant
use. The more nitrogen, phospho-
rus and potash these elements have
the more abundant plant growth
they produce. Now does it matter
where we get these elements from,
provided we get them in a form
equally available and cheap. The
immense fertilizer business grown
up within the last few years, has
developed almost unknown resources
for these elements. The bone black
Of the sugar refineries, the liquid
ammonia of the gas factories, once
a nuisance, but now a source Of
profit. -Four million pounds Of sui
phate ammonia made last year by
the New York and Brooklyn COM
panies. All the offal, wash, &C., Of
the great slaughter houses and the
butcher shops Of our great cities
produce immense quantities Of very
valuable material for fertilizers.
The immense natural deposits in the
earth of these elements-the muriate
and sulphate of potash found in
the salt mines near Strausfort in
Germany, the nitrate Of soda in
various parts of South America,
notably, Chill, Peru and Pernambuco,
and the phosphate of lime in extern
sive deposits in South Carolina,
West Indies, Canada, California and
the Pacific Isles and every country
in Europe. These different salts and
animal fertilizers are now sold on
the market according to their analy-
sis. The potash salts according to
their available potash, the available
nitrogen of the nitrates and Of the
dried blood and phosphoric acid Of
the phosphates. I hold it to be as
legitimate to buy these elements to
fertilize our crops as it is to buy
feed to fatten our stock: as we in
crease the fertility of our soil so do
we increase our yield. Instead Of
endeavoring to leave more acres
to our children, leave the land more
fertile, more productive.
J. J. White.-I prize barnyard
manure as highly as any one. TRY
to make and save all | can, and
after [ do this there IS not half
enough to supply the urgent demands
of my crops. Besides our stable
and lot manures are filled with nox-
ius seeds and filth. You can't make
as clean, plump grain with it as you
can with commercial fertilizers. If
you put on enough to make big.cr
the straw will fall down and the
grain be chaffy. Chemical fertili-
zers properly applied give the
young plant good send off, a point
of great Importance to the young
wheat plant. Brother Andrews, you
must read and catch up with the
times; this is a progressive age. To
my mind it is little strange that
man should condemn a thing with
out ever trying it. Did you ever
use any fertilizers, Mr. Andrews?
About 40 years ago | used one bag
and another 3 years ago.
Didn't it pay you?
Not one millionth part of cent.
w. G.. Barbee.-Only few men
really think, and they shape the pol
tiles, control the~parties and lead off
in Agriculture The best thing we
small fellows can do is to follow the
leadership of those who do know.
the Investigations of scien-