The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-04-27
Action Of Special Manures.
A number Of cases have been v

A number Of cases have been wit.
messed where the application of 200
pounds; Of super.phosphate to the acre
has increased the wheat crop from
600 to 800 pounds; while in another
place and on land equally fertile,
it has produced no sensible effect. a
similar contrast occurred in the use OF
potash from wood ashes, failing Of any
result in one locality, and nearly douh-
ling vegetable growth in another. Yet
the treatment of both these soils which
we're unaffected BY superphospnate or
potash, with nitrogenous fertilizers
rampa nt growth was produced. These
instances are selected as strong and
decided cases, but they prove the cor
rectness Of the principle. and they
show the Importance Of testing the
value of different Ingredients in various
soils, and not in blindly applying
them before their peculiar fitness has
been determined.
Prof. W. O Atwart. in a recent
address before the Massachusetts,
Horticultural Society, furnishes addi-
tional proof in the cases which be cites
| On a farm near Middletown, Conn !,
where phosphate and nitrogen had
very little effect, potash was found 10
be an efficient fertilizer. In another
locality, potash was nearly useless
while phosphate was effective.
Prof. A. gives some distinct proofs
of the different feeding capacities of
plants. In the use Of nitrogen, the
yield of corn was slightly increased.
the gain being extremely small-out
of proportion to the large cost of the
nitrogen. With potatoes, nitrogen
gave more decided response, and with
oats still greater. The conclusion was
therefore drawn that corn is the least,
and oats the most affected by the nitro
gen Of fertilizers. But an exception
was stated 10 experiments performed at
Durham, Conn, where decided
result was obtained with nitrogen on
corn; and in some trials made on our
own grounds the past season, nitrate OF
soda produced rank growth Of fodder
corn, but its effect was scarcely per-
ceived on potatoes. These conflicting
results were doubtless Ca used in part
by difference in soils in localities
remote from each other.
Some interesting facts are stated iu
the address showing the importance and
value Of fertilizer analyses at experim
ent stations. In reply to an inquiry
made of Mr.. Bartholomew, as to, what
actual benefit to him as q farmer he
had derived from Connecticut Station
work, he said, 81 have learned to p ace
great confidence in commercial terti-
lzers. when properly used, and that
they are much superior in quality to
those obtained before the establishment
of the experiment station; and can
Obtain finer potatoes. free from disease
aud Flemish. than by other means. |
find that by the use of them as adjun
cts to iarm manures, can obtain at
less expense superior crops OF corn
oats aud potatoes" Mr.. Fairchild
said the experiments had been of prac
tical benefit to him in many ways-in
showing what materials to apply. and
in what quantities, Without using
large amount of what his crops do not
want.
These statements indicate that the
very common opinion among farmers
that the use of commercial fertilizers
is waste Of money, comes from the"
hap.hazard application on the differing
soils which do not need them.