The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-09
FORMULH FOR COMPOSTS.

Hon. J. T. Henderson, Commits
sioner of Agriculture for the State of
Georgia, has issued his report Of an
alysis and commercial values of fer
tilizers-season lSS7-SS, and appends
the following, which we present to the
readers of The PROGRESSIVE FARMER:
If the stable manure and cotton
seed have been protected from waste
by exposure to rain and sun, the fol
lowing formulse is recommended:
Stable Manure ...;................... ESQ pounds.
Green Cotton Seed. ............... ESQ
| Superphosphate. Observation-Disclosures. 100
Making a ton Of of...... 2OO0 pounds
If the compost is intended for use
on soils particular deficient in potash,
the proportion of cotton seed and
stable manure may be reduced so
pound Is each, and 100 of pounds kainit
used instead. The formuln would
then be:
Stable Manure. ..........-....... coo pounds.
Cotton Seed, green. Observation-Disclosures. GtO :"
SuperphOsphae. .............. 1OO
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ''''' 10o
These ingredients may be varied in
proportions to adapt the resulting
composts to different soils Or crops,
but either Of the above will be found
to give satisfactory results in every
class Of soils and on all Of our cult
waited crops
To the above it may be added that
if the quantity of stable manure avail
able for composing is either relatively
greater or less than the proportions in
dicated in the above formula, the pro
portions may be disregarded without
detriment to the value Of the practical
results.
The point to be kept in view is to
preserve approximate y the relative
proportioning Of the three elements,
ammonia, phosphoric acid and potash.
This may be substantially accomplished
by preserving the relative quantities
of cotton seed. acid phosphate and
kainit, as given in the second formula.
This would give about one per cent.
of ammonia, and three-fourths Of one
per cent. of potash for every five per
cent. of phosphoric acid. The addi-
ton Of stable or lot manure in what
ever quantities would not materially
alter these relative percentages, but
would simply reduce each in about
the same ratio, and to the extent of
such addition.
If decorticated cotton seed (the ker-
nels of the seed) be used instead of
the whole seed, use half the quantity.
If the meal be used, reduce the
quantity of one-third of the weight of
cotton seed in the formule given.
These substitutions in the quantities
suggested, will not materially alter the
relative proportions of the three ele
ments, but will make a more concen-
trated fertilizer.
If the proportion of stable manure
be greater or less than stated in the
formula, increase or diminish the
quantity applied per acre, accordingly.
Farmers can save much of the i'm
mediate profits on sales of fertilizers if
they will club together and buy from
first hands, in twenty-ton lots and up
wards, the ingredients required, to-
wit: acid phosphate, cotton seed meal
and potash. If purchased in bulk,
that is unsacked, the saving will be
one dollar per ton on account of sacks.
There is no mystery whatever in mix
ing or manipulating fertilizers. A
farmer can fmix the ingredients sub
stantially as well as the manufacturer.
A single ton of acid phosphate con-
tanning l3 to IA per cent. available
phosphoric acid, should not cost, de-
livered at any depot in Georgia, more
than $14,OO cash, and freight from
Charleston or Port Royal.
In large lots the price would be pro-
portionately less. A single ton of