The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-02-23

t IS impracticable torsan editor, OF
gagTicnltnral chemist, or the head ofan
agrisnltnral department, to tell the far
mer just what fertilizing elements and
what proportions will give the best
results. on the farmers land. A well
Informed scientific sgricultnrist can give
some general suggestions. He will tell
ron that all soils are benefited by
application Of phosphoric acid and most
sof them BY potash and ammonia. He
can also ssell yon that certain crops are
especially. grateful for particular ele-
ments. was once generally taught that
chemical analysis of the soil of q partic-
nlar 6eld would reveal all its defects and
deficiencies, and that the chemist could
thereupon base formula, as a physician
prescribes for his patient after making a
careful diagnosis. This theory is no
longer advocated and may be said to be
exploded. It Is mot, necessary to give the
reasons Why practice fails to sustain
theory. Chemical analysis does indeed
frequently throw some light on the sub.
iieet, and sometimes furnishes reliable
suggestion or indication. But even if
always reliable and servicable to the
farmer, chemical analysis can only
determine the composition oftheparticular
sample of soil !; and that particular sam.
Sple may not correctly represent a single
square foot Of a farm except the spot
from which it was taken. But, practical
", every farmer may be his own chemist,
Ito the determining what elements his soil,
ora particular field, requires and what
I proportions. of these elements will give
the best results. He has only to consider
hist field as the laboratory of nature, the
fertilizers he applies the re agents and
The details Of preparation, planting,
culture, etc, the maDipulations of the
scheIaist. Ifthe farmer wants to know Of
cotton seed meal or whole cotton seed, or
the unexpressed kernel which is the best
and most profitable form for use as q
fertilizer, alone or in combination or if
he wishes to know whether potash is
needed by his soil, and if needed, what
form Of. potash is most effective and
profitable; or if he, wanta to know the
best proportions, and the best paying
quantities, or any other of 8 thousand
questions that might be propounded, let
him put his laboratory in order, lay in
stock ofre.agents, and do the work Of
aualyzing himself. Let him ask Nature,
) and she will answer in an unmistakable
way. In other words, let every farmer
3 become an experimenter, to the extent at
least Of solving for himself the questions
which come within the range of ordinary
intelligence and skill, and which most
concern him and his own farm. Such
experiments, or practical analysis, cost
very: little more than the necessary care
and attention requisite to secure accuracy
il the details and reliability in the
indications furnished by the comparative
and direct result. The manipulations
are such as the farmer has been accus-
toned TO-; they are part of his daily
business. Farmers do not experiment
enough, or with sufficient care and
painstaking as to secure reliable results.
Too much is taken on trust or hearsay.
Try: oil things" and hold fast to the
good, should be the watchword.-Atlanta,
CD Southern Culliuator.