St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-06-16
SPECIAL MANURES.


duc0 0ooi Results.
For many years we have urged the
Importance Of adapting special feriil.
izers 10 the differing soils to which
they are applied. and have given
many instances of success in the OBJ
scrvance Of this rule and of failure in
i;s neglect Among others. a NUM-
Der of cases have been witnessed
where the application of two hundred
pounds OF supcrphosphate 10 the acre
has increased the wheat crop from six
hundred TO eight hundred pounds;
while in another place and on land
equally fertile. it has produced no
sensible effect A similar contrast Oc-
CURED in the use Of potash from wood
ashes. failing of any result in one
locality. and nearly doubling vcgcta-
BILE growth in another. Yet tho trca,-
ment Of both these soils which were
unaffected by supcrphosphate potash.
with heterogeneous fertilizers rampant
growth was PRODUCED. These in
stances arc selec ell rs strong and dc.
cidcd cases. but they prove The cor.
RICHNESS Of the principle. AMI they
show the Importance of testing the
value of different ingredients in vari-
Gus soils. and not in blindly applyin:
them before their peculiar fitness has
been determined.
Prot w. d Atwatcr. in 4 recent all
dress before the Massachusetts ii ,r,i-
cultural eic,y. furui shes additional
proof in the cases which he cites On
farm near Mildlctown. Cmn..
where phosphate and nitrogen had
very little eff :ci. potash was found 10
b, an efficient fertilizer In another
locality. potash was nearly useless.
while phosphate was "A .ctivc.
Prof A. gives some distinct proof,
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 conclu-
sion was iheref r. drawn that corn is
tho least, and oats the most affected
by the nitrogen Of fertilizers. But an
exception was stated in experiments
performed at Durham. Conn. where .
decided result was obtained with nitro
gen on corn; and in some trials made
on onr own grounds the past season.
nitrate Of soda produced rank growth
Of fodder corn. Tut its effect was
.arccly perceived on potatoes These
conflicting results were doubtless
caused in part by a difference in soils
in localities remote from each other
Some interesting facts are stated in
The address showing the Importance
and value Of fertilizer analyses ut ex-
pertinent stations In reply to. an in
curry. made by Mr.. Bartholomew. ms
70 what actual benefit TO him rs a
farmer he had derived from the Con-
necticut Station work. he said: Il
nave learned 10 place great conf lcnce
m commercial fertilizers. when prop
'rly used. and that they are much
In quality to those obtained
,eforc the establishment Of tho expert.
nent station; and / can obtain finer |
potatoes. free from disease and blcn-
sh. than by any other means Iiird
hat by the use of them as adjuncts To
arm manurcs. can obtain ut less cx-
,ense superior crops Of corn. oats and
DOtatOcS" Nj EairchilJ said the OK. |
'erimcnts had been of practical benefit
o him i'm many ways-in showing
vhat materials to apply. and in what
Quantities. without using large
mount of what his crops do not want |
These statements indicate that the
'ery common opinion among farmers
hat the use of commercial fertilizers
S 4 waste Of money. comes from their
'ap-hazari application on the differ
ne soils which do not need them
COUNTRY Gentleman.