The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-03-16
Farming Methods in Germany.

Farming Methods in Germany.
| Under this caption which is not ar
illuminated text to the subject; "Emi
Wenig" contributes an article from
Germany to the American Farnaer O
March 1st, which every farmer shoulc
read. A careful study of the article
will show the importance of an expert
mental station for Maryland agriculture
such as the thorough Germans have
established. Il will be seen what az
important part commercial fertilizers
play in modern farming. Farmers
might as we'll resolve to go back to the
hoe, scythe and hand rake as to at
tempt farming without using CONNER
cial manures. Emil Wenig' points
out the great risk that is incurred by
the haphazzard use Of fertilizers. 1t
seems that the pinch among European
farmers is as severe as amongst Ameri-
can farmers, Emil Wenig" says:
Farmers working their land by
help of their own children, and living
an unassuming life, get along better
than proprietors OF larger estates, The
last named are generally deeper in debt,
and the effort at present is to avoid all
Injuries and to produce cheaper +; hard
rs it is, according to our surrounding
circumstances, to produce rye as cheap
as Russia, wool as cheap as Australia,
wheat as cheap as East India, and meat
as cheap as America.
Our agricultural business is closely
connected with keeping live stock, SO
that the importation of meat, lard,
margarine and wool to Europe hurts
us just as we'll as the importation of
grains Formerly, man that fed his
animals richly was considered an intel
ligent landlord to-day it is almost
luxury to feed richly; for the income
from butter, meat, wool, does not cover
the expenses, the ACQUIRING manure-heap
becoming too costly. It is, therefore,
the question now, whether it is cheaper
to produce rich stable manure or to
give the soil the nourishnent for plants
directly in form of commercial manure.
LAWS OF VEGETABLE NUTRITION
Our agricultural stations take pains
to study the laws of vegetation, the
influence of phosphates, potash, lime,
nitrogen, also the physical state ofsoils;
but vegetation is not merely simple
chemical process; it will take a long
while to learn by listening the secrets
of growth.
This, however, is settled fact, that
to produce full crop all elements the
plant needs for growing and fruition
ought TO be in reach of the plant, be it
In the soil or the atmosphere, in the
stable dung, or artificial manure. and
invariably in fixed proportion. When
ever the plant lacks certain indispen-
sable nourishment, no full crop can be
expected merely crop, according to
that lesser existing nourishment.
To make comparison: One pound
Of sulphur, one Of charcoal, six of salt
petre give eight pounds ofgun powder !;
but being in possession of but half a
pound of sulphur never can produce
eight pounds of gun powder; merely
four pounds, even if l had saltpetre and
coal by the quantity. Exactly so it is
with the supply for plants Eighty
pounds of nitrogen, one hundred
pounds of potash and fifty pounds of
phosphoric acid are needed to produce
lll,50O pounds Of oat-plants; if there is
but twenty FIVE pounds of phosphoric
acid within reach of the plant (be it in
the soil or the manure only half of the
crop can be expected.
All nutritious matter is taken up by
plants in soluble state only, and
therefore plants need, during their
lifetime, certain quantity of water,
some plants more, some less; as rule,
more water shortly before the time of
blooming. In soil too wet, vegetation
| is retarded or ee,ses altogether; on soil
or in an atmosphere too dry, plants die
before full perfection. The same plants
require a certain degree of warmth aud
sun light to come to perfection.
A long while ago chemists had an
idea that plants needed for their exist
ence only mineral substances in the
soil, since the atmosphere was an mex
haustible source OF nitrogen !; now, it is
settled fact that nitrogenous matter
in manure brings most OF the plants to
their highest perfection.
THE FUNCTIONS OF NITROGEN.
Nitrogen, after water, is the most
powerful element for terminating,
a.n;nn and nradneinn nrnvidnd all